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ARCADIANUNLIKELY HERO IN DAWG WINÂYou watch, Cammy (Cameron Day) has been clutch for us all year. HeÂll get the hit to win it.ÂŽPAGE 14 Arcadian 75Â¢THEÂServing DeSoto County since 1887ÂŽ INSIDELike and follow us on Facebook. SOCIAL MEDIA 7,257 likesViewpoint .................4 Calendar ...................6 Police Beat ................7 Obituaries .................9 Sports .....................14 ..............20 INDEX APRIL 19 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION County leadership at Turner Center Exhibit HallDeSoto BOCCÂs town hall, ask questions, share ideas, not a ÂboredÂŽ meeting. PG 24 DESOTO REPUBLICANS HOST LINCOLN-REAGAN DINNER Guests from six counties at Turner CenterÂBlue-Dog DemocratsÂ attend, looking ahead, Adam Putnam keynotes event. PG 10 SAY HELLO TO TOBYÂS NORM KREFELD Arcadia artist has painted almost 80 yearsPicked up his brush in tribute to a Charlotte deputyÂs dog. PG 3 Thursday, April 12, 2018 24 pages / 75 cents The Florida Department of Transportation plans to Ârepair and rehabilitateÂŽ the old bridge (#049001) over the Peace River, as noted by Director of Transportation Development John M. Kubler in an Oct. 27, 2017, email message to Arcadia Administrator Terry Stewart. ÂItÂs like a diamond in the rough,ÂŽ Kubler said of the bridge. When he had met with DeSoto County Administrator Mandy Hines about a year ago, she told him that if he liked historyÂ„and as a Florida native, he doesÂ„ he should Âswing by and look at the old bridge.ÂŽ As the saying goes, it was love at Â“rst sight. Plans for its restoration are part of FDOTÂs Â“scal year 2018 budget with construction scheduled to begin in the Â“rst quarter (Aug.-Sept. 2019) of Â“scal year 2020. Federal fundingÂ„Âsomething like a million and $50,000,ÂŽ he saidÂ„will pay for the project. FDOT also offered to Âmill and paveÂŽ the eastern approach: W. Hickory Street from Baldwin Avenue to the old bridge as Âan incentive to encourage the city to approve the requested vacation,ÂŽ as noted in the packet for the Jan. 16 Arcadia city council meeting. Council voted to retain a utility access easement and vacate one block of N. Parker Avenue, as well as 25 feet of an east-west alley between Baldwin and Parker avenues, as requested by FDOT to Âincrease the How to bridge Peace River? By CAROL MAHLERARCADIAN HISTORICAL CORRESPONDENTModern plans for the 1925 connectorPART IIBRIDGE | 11 ARCADIAN PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORYA pleasant vista from a distant time.A pair of DeSoto County Â“reÂ“ghters left the department this week. One of them the public safety agencyÂs chief pictured as his one-day replacement, the other just as skilled and motivated in his profession. But itÂs not the risks, the crazy hours or even the dated equipment that prompted the surprise resignationsÂ„it was pay. Both losses this week, and others before them, left for sharp pay hikes at other southwest Florida Â“re/rescue agencies, one in Fort Myers Beach, the other in St. Petersburg, DeSoto Fire Rescue Chief Chad Jorgensen said. Fire rescue and the DeSoto sheriffÂs department both struggle to Â“nd and keep ofÂ“cers, training them and watching them Â”y off to better funded agencies. Again, DeSotoÂs modest entry pay was the culprit. To that end, the DeSoto Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an immediate Â”ush of payroll funding into both Â“re and sheriffÂs agencies. DeSoto County Public Safety adjustments for base pay, for instance, will move an entry-level EMT/Â“reÂ“ghter from $32,449 to $37,449, and sheriffÂs deputies from a base of $33,469 to $38,750. The prorated six-month impact from the general fund is about $350,000. DeSoto commissioners voting to approve the pay measure wondered aloud about public reaction. But DeSoto public safety leadership couldnÂt thank them enough, drained by the merry-go-round of training and losing good ofÂ“cers in rural agencies such as DeSoto. ÂThis measure,ÂŽ DeSoto sheriff James Potter said of the vote, Âwill go a long way to help ensure, not only retention of our dedicated men and women, but also to attract more professionals into the service of our citizens and community.ÂŽ Unable to Â“nd recruits, Jorgensen had taken to traveling to FloridaÂs Â“re academies, he said. His team of 51 last year ran some 5,200 rescues, mostly medical calls. And thatÂs with 25 percent less manpower than is slotted, he said. ÂIÂm hoping this,ÂŽ he said of pay bumps, Âattracts somebody.ÂŽDeSoto public safety gets cash infusion, lost workers, vacancies citedBy CRAIG GARRETTARCADIAN EDITOR 7 S | 6 Locations Schedule your exam today! 863-485-2030 | MCRHS.org WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!Family Practice Pediatrics Pharmacy Optometry Chiropractic Podiatry Behavorial Healthadno=720405 2 0 1 8 0 4 1 2 a s 0 1 p d f 1 1 1 A p r 1 8 1 9 : 1 8 : 2 9

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Arcadian | Page 2 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 DEADLINESEditorial: Monday Noon Classified & Legal Ads: Tuesday 5 p.m. Display Ads: Monday at Noon to reserve space If you have a problem with home delivery, please call our office at 863-494-2434 before 10 a.m. the day of so we can correct it for you.Arcadian Publisher ..............................Joe Gallimore .........................................863-494-7049 Arcadian Editor ...................................Craig Garrett ..........................................863-494-3925 Office Manager / Advertising ...........Tami Jewell ...........................................863-494-5201 Customer Service ...............................Casey Shirley ..........................................863-263-3445 Customer Service ...............................Sonya Shellhouse ..................................863-494-5208 Graphic Artist ......................................Jackie Bierman ......................................863-494-7600SUN NEWSPAPERSMember of the Audit Bureau of Circulation DESOTO CIRCULATIONCustomer Service cshirley@sun-herald.com sshellhouse@sun-herald.com108 S. Polk Ave., Arcadia FL 34266 Joe Gallimore jgallimore@sun-herald.com Craig Garrett cgarrett@sun-herald.com Tami Jewell tjewell@sun-herald.com Casey Shirley cshirley@sun-herald.com Sonya Shellhouse sshellhouse@sun-herald.com Jackie Bierman jbierman@sun-herald.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: LEGAL ADVERTISING: ONLINE www.yoursun.net Like The Arcadian on Facebook Follow The Arcadian on Twitter @ArcadianNews Follow The Arcadian on Instagram @arcadian_flnews Casey Shirley & Sonya Shellhouse Sierra Civin: 941-206-1025, legals@sun-herald.com 863-494-2434 arcadian@sun-herald.com Things still arenÂt all that great for DeSoto CountyÂs kids. Numbers compiled this year by the University of South Florida, its Department of Child & Family Studies, show that DeSotoÂs children continue to place last or close to the bottom in most of 16 categories relating to economic, education, health and family well-being. The county in the last few years has held the dubious position at or near the bottom of these classiÂ“cations that are tracked in every American state in the KIDS COUNT database, a project funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to measure progess and barriers to raising healthy children positioned to succeed. The irony of DeSoto placing 67 in 67 Florida counties is that our neighbor one county to the west, Sarasota, is mostly tops in these same categories. A rural community with entirely different issues is a factor, of course, but other things are in play, many that date back decades, health and education authorities said about DeSotoÂs poor showing in Florida. ItÂs not a coincidence that other poorly performing counties are rural, including neighbors such as Hardee, Hendry and Okeechobee, all with high migrant populations and an agricultural economy. Poverty, single-parent homes and kids poorly prepared for school are some reasons why rural counties such as DeSoto perform poorly, research shows. But some in DeSoto County are Â“ghting back. DeSoto schools, for DeSoto working to repair poor showing in child well-being reportBy CRAIG GARRETTARCADIAN EDITORinstance, in August will provide a pre-kindergarten program in the districtÂs three elementary schools, its administrators have pushed online classes and focus on building-block skills such as math and reading, have placed graduation/dropout/academic coaches, after-school, summer and tutoring classes, and have ramped up an academic/technical training partnership with South Florida State College. The district will also introduce an afternoon meal program and other health incentives, Supt. Adrian Cline said, adding there is no magic pill in a district with a high immigrant population and families stuggling to meet the basics in health and education. ÂResearch shows that early care helps an awful lot,ÂŽ said Phyllis Clemons, director of DeSotoÂs early childhood program and who is introducing Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten this year. Others in DeSoto County have programs that stitched together go after the problem at different angles. The Florida Department of Health in DeSoto and Highlands counties, for instance, has a menu of programs and services to support targeted families and their kids. The agency provides and advocates in a wide Â“eld of programs to improve childhood outcomes and prevent child abuse, including: Healthy Start: For pregnant women and infants, preventing adverse health outcomes. Dental services: Critical to a childÂs ability to learn and instructs them in dental health. Clinical and immunization services: Staff pediatrician/physician, other health-care professionals. Basic childhood immunizations through the Vaccines for Children program. School Health: In cooperation with the school board, school health nurses at each location within the county, health counseling, referrals and follow-up for suspected/conÂ“rmed health problems, individualized health plan development, in-school case management for chronic and acute health conditions, assistance with medication, Â“rst aid and emergency healthcare, screenings for vision, hearing, scoliosis, and development, and communicable disease prevention and interventions. WIC nutrition services: Access to healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and community services for women, infants, and children (to age 5). Sexual risk avoidance education (middle and high schools). Healthiest Weight Florida: Provides information and resources on healthy eating and active living. Reach Out and Read: Providing age-appropriate books to children, and presenting parents and caregivers with information on reading awareness. Food distribution. Drug Free DeSoto. Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP): issues are tobacco use, diabetes and obesity, domestic violence and mental health. The next CHIP workgroup meeting is May 5, 34 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Others in Arcadia and DeSoto County insist that language barriers, drug/ child abuse, recruiting foster families, homelessness, nutrition and other lifestyle issues that damage families must be Â“xed before DeSoto can begin its organic move away from the bottom of a child well-being index. Not easy, for sure. Plenty of food is a good start, said Sandra McLellan, the owner of Imagination Station, an Arcadia preschool where she will sometimes hand out extra snacks because children will take them home to share. To that end, DeSoto County is blessed with food pantries. Still, healthy eating is a Â“rst step in keeping kids on the right path. ÂKids think a lot better when their brain is working,ÂŽ McLellan said. ÂAnd itÂs not working when theyÂre hungry.ÂŽ Others see summer camps, Â“eld trips exposing kids to the outside world, recreation and other healthy activities as a way out of poverty and of limited hopes, said Ashley Coone, who is with the Smith Brown Project in Arcadia, which has a summer program to promote literacy, social skills, martial arts and other busy work, for instance. Others see mentoring as a key to helping kids break free. The Precious Pearls Project, for example, exposes girls from troubled families to positive role models, takes them on journeys to places such as Washington, D.C., introduces them to cultural experiences outside their understanding, said Shameka Hollimon, the nonproÂ“tÂs founder. A Teen Empowerment Summit on Saturday at DeSoto Middle School addresses such issues. Fixing DeSoto CountyÂs child well-being issues, of course, is a community project, not just for parents, government agencies and schools, Imagination StationÂs McLellan said. ÂItÂs almost a political debate, a lot of emotion,ÂŽ she said. ÂBut something we need to be ready to Â“x.ÂŽ SPREAD THE NEWS! There Â s something for everyone in the adno=720217

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 3 | Arcadian When Norm Krefeld was 4 years old he picked up a brush and began a quest that would last almost 80 years. During that time he has learned to paint using oils, pastels and watercolors. Over the years as an autoworker in Flint, Michigan, and into retirement here in Arcadia, Norm has developed a love of animals, especially dogs. He has sketched a number of pets belonging to the residents in TobyÂs RV Resort, where he winters with Sandy, his wife of 56 years. When Norm found out that a K-9 unit dog from the Port Charlotte SheriffÂs OfÂ“ce had been killed in December, he picked up his brush and painted a portrait of the dog as a memento for his partner, SheriffÂs Deputy First Class Sean Davoli, who accepted the portrait of Edo in an emotional exchange last week in Arcadia. ÂIÂm grateful,ÂŽ the 28-year-old deputy said of the unsolicited artwork. ÂThis is a very nice thing. Thank you.ÂŽ The residents of TobyÂs are used to seeing Norm Krefeld, paint brush in hand, either working on the mural he is painting on the parkÂs water tower, or just creating an image on canvas for one of the residents. Right now Krefeld is working on several portraits, one of a person who lives Arcadia artist Norm KrefeldÂs brush with the lawBy JIMMY PETERSARCADIAN HOMETOWN CORRESPONDENT ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY JIMMY PETERSNorm Krefeld puts the nal touch on a sea turtle, which is part of the sealife scene he painted on a water tower at TobyÂs RV Resort. Norm Krefeld gave a portrait of a police dog to Deputy First Class Sean Davoli, a handler with the Charlotte County SheriÂs Oce. The dog, Edo, died in December and Krefeld produced the artwork in tribute. Norm Krefeld mostly enjoys painting animals, especially dogs. This portrait is of a Charlotte County canine that died in December. Krefeld winters at TobyÂs RV Resort with wife Sandy. He is a Michigan native and retired autoworker who has drawn or painted better than 80 years.ARTIST | 3 CROWNS Â€ BRIDGES Â€ EXTRACTIONS Â€ IM PLANTSYou deserve dental treatment at a reasonable price! 941.822.0048 FREE CONSULTATION IMPLANT DENTURE STABILIZATIONDeluxe DentureComplete SetNew Patient Exam, X-Rays & ConsultationReg. $1,500($100 Value Offer good for 30 days)(Partials not Included) 5643 Clark Road Â€Sarasota, FL 34233Next to Dunkin Donuts @ I-75, exit 205 FREE 2nd Opinion!!*CROWNS* $475FREE!*$750*May change based on complexity of case. The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination, or treatment, that is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to advertisement f or the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination or treatment. General Dentist Lic#14423. *Only Â“rst time consultation is at no charge. *Extractions not included.*D2751 *D5110, D5210 *D0150, D0330adno=54533466

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Arcadian | Page 4David Dunn-Rankin Â„ Suncoast Media Group President Joe Gallimore Â„ Arcadian PublisherCraig Garrett Â„ Arcadian EditorE-mail letters to cgarrett@sun-herald.com A request: Leave food before you goOUR POSITIONS: Food pantries prepare for a long off-season of need.The cars and travel trailers are northbound again. Easter has past, the Major League Baseball season has begun and, in Ohio, Michigan, New York and Massachusetts, the weather is breaking for the better. If nothing else, the snow isnÂt sticking quite as much. Snowbird season is ending here in Southwest Florida. The RVs and SUVs streaming from DeSoto County are like waves of geese moving in the other direction. ItÂs time we wave farewell to annual visitors and wish them safe travels. Also, on a practical note, we ask they leave a little something behind before they pack and hit the road. WeÂre not being moochy. Just sensitive to the needs of neighbors and hopeful that those who are leaving our sunny patch of paradise wonÂt simply toss items they donÂt need in the trash before driving off. WeÂre talking about food. Food that might perish in a week, canned goods too heavy to load and lug a thousand miles north, or boxed goods that take up too much trunk space. Our food pantries are in need. They are always in need, frankly, but this time of year they stock up with food that snowbirds are thoughtful enough to leave for someone else who can use it. The campaign is catchy: ÂLeave It Before You Leave.ÂŽ And the idea is simple: When youÂre cleaning out your pantry, put the excess food you canÂt use or donÂt want to cart home into a box or bags. Bring it to a community food pantry. Call a church. Many will know where to drop it off. (See below for a few suggestions.) This is an important time of year for food pantries. Typically, they stock up reasonably well during the Christmas season and the winter months that follow. Then, the place clears out and shelves begin to go bare. In addition, the school year will end in a couple of months and the kids who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs will Â“nd themselves in a bit of a hunger hole. ThatÂs where the food pantries and the extraordinary services like the All Faiths Food Bank and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (in Lee/Charlotte counties) play a large role. All Faiths delivers food to kids at summer schools and camps, to libraries, YMCAs and churches. Mobile food pantries make regular stops in our communities. In recent years, the food bank Â“gured it served more than 30,000 children nearly 2 million meals or snacks. This year, they expect 40,000 youngsters will need aid during the summer in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. The Â“fth annual All FaithsÂ summer food drive began April 1 and runs through mid-May. We encourage all to donate money through the website, www. allfaithsfoodbank.org. But there are a dozen or so food banks, missions and senior centers in DeSoto that could use food ... and volunteers. Catholic Charities, Center for the Needy, DeSoto Friendship Centers and nearly every church accepts canned goods and hygiene products, prepares meals and otherwise looks out for those in greatest need. And volunteers are always at a premium as our friends leave for cooler places in other parts of the world. Safe travels and welcome home in a few months! Tips for DCHS grads, know the lingo, watch for gimmicksEditor: ItÂs been 43 years since I walked across the stage to receive my high school diploma from DeSoto County High School. In just a few weeks the class of 2018 will take that walk across the stage going from high school to college or technical school, the military, or the workforce. Whatever they decide to do after May 25, their lives will change forever. What to expect after graduation? College life is not all fun, games, parties, and freedom. It is multiple classes from multiple professors with no one to remind you to get up, get dressed, and get to class. In order to be successful in college one must be self-motivated. The opportunity to throw caution to the wind and just have fun is ever present at college, but it must be tempered by the level head that realizes that all play and no work will surely cause failure at college. Colleges and high schools have totally different languages. So itÂs important to know a bit about the language before you go: Alumnus is singular for a graduate of a college or institution while alumni are plural for multiple graduates of an institution. Course number: A three digit number of a speciÂ“c class. Prerequisite: Classes that you have taken before. Drop/Add: The period of time that you can drop or add a class without being penalized. Withdraw: When you are formally dropped from a class. Pledge: A new member of a sorority or fraternity. Rush: The time of year when sororities and fraternities host events to invite new members. The biggest recommendation that I have for college-bound students is for you to have a mindset to work hard and be self-motivated to stay on track. If youÂre going directly into the workforce after high school I strongly recommend that you get to work on Never fear, Big Brother is always near, wave helloLetÂs talk conspiracies. No, IÂm not one of those extremists who canÂt turn loose of the lone gunman vs. the shooter on the grassy knoll theory from the JFK assassination 55 years ago, but I do have to stop and scratch my head and wonder about some stuff now and then. IÂm betting you do, too. We have always heard about Big Brother keeping an eye and ear on us, like some omnipresent entity that we can never escape. Even if some were on a deserted island, theyÂd swear they were being monitored from a satellite in outer space. And maybe we are, you know. With technology advancing faster than a speeding bullet these days, who knows what is possible? Everybody has a cell phone now, pretty much. And just think of the many modes of communication contained within texts, tweets, Snapchat, Instagram, FaceTiming, emailing, Facebook, and many more, including that near-archaic feature ... the phone call. One day the phone will be but another app on that little rectangular life-support system that we tote around, mark my word. WhoÂs to say Big Brother isnÂt listening in on your cell phone? I donÂt know Â“rst hand, but IÂve heard it said that if you say certain words or phrases while on the phone, it can alert some sort of national security system, which will immediately be tuned into everything youÂre giving utterance to, so we should probably not joke around about that kind of stuff. Now IÂm making myself paranoid, wondering if ÂtheyÂŽ are monitoring me as I type my column via email. Yikes.Letters are welcome on virtually any subject, but we do have some rules. Please keep them to less than 250 words. Letters must be received no later than noon on Tuesday. Letters will be edited to length as well as grammar and spelling. All letters must be signed with full name not initials. An address and telephone number must be included; they are not for publication, but must be provided so we may verify authorship if necessary. Due to the number of letters received, we reserve the right to run only one letter per person per mont h. The Letters to the Editor section is intended as a public forum for community discourse and the opinions and statements made in letters are solely those of the individual writers. The Arcadian takes no responsibility for the content of these letters. Please send or bring correspondence to the Arcadian 108 S. Polk Ave., Arcadia FL 34266, or fax to 863-494-3533. Readers with access to the internet may e-mail Letters to the Edi tor to cgarrett@sun-herald.com or arcadian.editor@gmail.com.OUR VIEW LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GRITS & PIECES LETTER SUBMISSION POLICY DeSotoViewpoint Luke Wilson troubador55@embarqmail.comLETTERS | 22 GRITS & PIECES | 5

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 5 | Arcadian How about this Alexa doodad that everybody is having so much fun with, asking it questions, getting it to play music, give recipes, you name it? How invasive is this thing among us? Recently those peculiar little electronic wonders were said by some to be chuckling to themselves. I donÂt know about yÂall, but I Â“nd it quite odd that an inanimate object would Â“nd something humorous. Spooky, even. Those things are listening, I tell you. Probably watching, too. IÂve heard some theorize that they (whoever this all-knowing ÂtheyÂŽ is) can see you via your television. Hmmm ... so that means that while IÂm watching the TV, itÂs watching me? If thatÂs true, I believe it would take a lot of patience and tolerance on their part to wait for me to do something worth monitoring. I have a sure-Â“re plan to thwart their attempts at that, though. Just waitÂll they get a load of me sitting in my easy chair in my BVDs. If that donÂt do it, nothing will! Have you noticed that ominous eyeball on top of the pyramid on the back of the one-dollar bill? That might mean that the government has been watching us all along. And since weÂre steeped in technology at every turn, there may be nowhere to go to get away from somebody keeping an eye on us. YÂall might better check to see what all is plugged in and watching next time you head for the bathroom. Oh, the terrifying possibilities. Then again, what if itÂs aliens who are gathering all the information via our satellites? What could they do with all the diverse data thatÂs bouncing all around this planet? If theyÂre intelligent space travelers, perhaps they could share with us a better way to exist. Then again, granted what all they may Â“nd out about us and how we treat each other and this big blue marble weÂre hurtling through space on, they may just do the smart thing and annihilate us and put us out of our misery. The Mark Zuckerberg Facebook hearings with the House and Senate this week ought to make us stop and wonder just who knows what about us. Used to be, we only knew about Santa seeing us when weÂre sleeping and knowing when weÂre awake. Now it could be most anybody anywhere, or any imaginable device. WhoÂs to say that your pillow didnÂt come with technology that sucks the dreams out of your head at night and is recharged by the sound of you, snoring? Well, thatÂs just one more thing to worry about, right? Like the old saying goes, even if you are paranoid, that doesnÂt mean theyÂre not out to get you. Have a good week, yÂall, and be sure to tell Big Brother hello through Alexa now and then, just to stay on friendly terms.GRITS & PIECESFROM PAGE 4 Ivory McGill is proof that lifeÂs setbacks need not last forever. The Arcadian, who is 33, had been living in a subsidized residence in the Arcadia Housing Authority complex for about Â“ve years. Today, McGill and her three kids live in a ranch-style house in Arcadia that she has mortgaged. She works as a family support counselor for a nonproÂ“t and sees only good things happening down the road. But McGillÂs journey from there to here wasnÂt easy, she said. Returning to Arcadia from east Florida in 2012, ÂI had no money, no nothing,ÂŽ she said. ÂI knew I had to start fresh.ÂŽ What happened at her lowest point could be called providence by some, pure luck by others. McGillÂs stuggles came to the attention of Beck Sue Mercer, director for the Arcadia Housing Authority, a rent-subsidized neighborhood of about 150 units for qualiÂ“ed low-income families, seniors and the disabled. McGill was placed on the list of eligible renters, eventually was awarded a three-bedroom, one-bath unit. Mercer said McGill grinded it out, working and raising her three children over a Â“ve-year stay at AHA. And always on time with the rent. ÂIvory,ÂŽ Mercer said, Âis a prime example of living in a tough world, knuckling down and doing everything right. She repaired her credit, saved money and Â“nally was able to buy a house. She used the system to her advantage. The way youÂre supposed to.ÂŽ Mercer and others in the business of helping struggling families understand the successes of an Ivory McGill are few. Numbers donÂt lie: DeSoto County is last in child well-being statistics in FloridaÂs 67 counties, and the percent of single parents raising children in DeSoto is three out of four, for example. Those in low-income circumstances dreaming like an Ivory McGill must be determined and Â“ght to achieve their goals, Mercer and others insist. And itÂs not easy. Yet, some make the break. A smallish woman with an easy smile, McGill sat in the family room of the Arcadia home she bought in November, proud of the place, but a bit weary on a Friday after a week of working at the RCMA center in Arcadia, where she advocates for families. Her kids and a boyfriend are in the gameroom, doing what makes them happy in the privacy of a safe home on a quiet street. McGill recommends those parked in subsidized housing make a plan to move beyond that temporary stop sign: build and live by a budget, save money/tax returns, take real steps to reach goals, spend only on what is needed, not what is wanted, she said. ÂYour today is not always your tomorrow,ÂŽ she said of her mission to succeed. ÂKeep your faith, believe in God, knowing thatÂs where your help comes from.ÂŽ And for struggling single parents or those raising children in a tough situation? ÂPush your kids towards their goals,ÂŽ she said. ÂGet out of the mindset of settling or not thinking youÂre not good enough. You can be or do what you want with determination and hard work.ÂŽMessage of success, Arcadian followed an action planBy CRAIG GARRETTARCADIAN EDITOR ARCADIAN PHOTO PROVIDEDIvory McGill saved and followed a budget to escape public housing and to purchase a home in Arcadia. DeSoto Church Directory ... And Make Your Choice from our Church Directory May the Lord Â“ ll your heart with love. Grace Lutheran Church, LCMS 1004 W. Oak Street Rev. Anthony Arias Pastor Adult Sunday School 11:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM All Welcome! Land of Promise, Land of Hope:A 14-Day Walk with the Bible in Israel & Jordan October 5 -18, 2018Especially designed for First Presbyterian Church of Arcadia First Church of the NazareneA LIGHTHOUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 85 YEARS132 W Gibson Street Arcadia FL 34266863-491-1422 Rev. Steve JohnsonSunday Worship 10:45 am Sunday School 9:30 am The VOICE of God will never contradict the WORD of God See your Church in this spotContact Tami494-5201for more information See Your Church in this spotCall Tami at 494-5201for more details. See your Church in this spotContact Tami494-5201for more information 5104 NW Oak Hill Ave.863-494-6224REV. JERRY WATERSSunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am and 6:00 pm Wednesday 6:30 pm for Prayer Group, Youth & Childrenadno=720219

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Arcadian | Page 6 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 NOTE: All phone numbers are in Area Code 863 unless stated otherwise. To add, remove or change any listing in the Community Calendar, email arcadian.editor@gmail. com or call 494-0300. Listings are free for nonprofit and noncommercial organizations. Â€ Senior Friendship Centers are now offering Bridge and Mahjong. Anyone interested should call Diana at 494-5965 to sign up. Â€ Tractor Supply is holding the ÂPaper CloverÂŽ fundraiser from now through April 22. Customers can purchasing a paper clover Â„ the emblem of 4-H Â„ for a donation during checkout or by making a purchase online at TractorSupply.com. The funds raised will be awarded to FL 4-H youth as scholarships to attend camps and leadership conferences. All donations made in Forida will benefit FL 4-H youth. TODAYÂ€ The only Narcotics Anonymous now meets Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Church in Arcadia. For information, call Curtis at 244-2884. Â€ Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and other Relations Raising Relations meets monthly on the second Thursday from 9-11 a.m. at the Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St. Â€ The DeSoto County Veterans Council meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. For details, call Ron Jones at 941-806-7108. Â€ TEAM Arcadia meets on the second Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Mary MargaretÂs Tea & Biscuit, 10 S. Polk Avenue. The purpose of TEAM Arcadia is to unite community organizations and coordinate community improvement efforts. Â€ DeSoto County Historical Society meets at noon every second Thursday monthly at the Family Service Center annex, 310 W. Whidden St., Arcadia. Lunch is available for $6 at 11:30 a.m. Â€ Arcadia-DeSoto County Habitat for Humanity meets at 6 p.m. second Thursday monthly at the SunTrust Bldg., second floor, 10 S. Desoto Ave. Call 494-4118 or email desotohabitat@embarqmail.com for more information. Â€ Free blood pressure screenings administered by DeSoto Memorial Home Health at the Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St., every second and fourth Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 9 a.m. to noon every Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Â€ Kiwanis meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at Beef OÂBradyÂs. Â€Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St., daily coffee and conversation 9-10 a.m. Crafts or games in the Activity Room from 10-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hr. advance notice; call 494-5965. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ DeSoto County Library story time is at 3 p.m. at 125 N. Hillsborough Ave., Arcadia. Call 993-4851 for more information. Â€ Faith Mission provides free lunches for anyone in need, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1109 S.E. 9th St., Arcadia. Donations gratefully accepted. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Second Tradition meets at 7 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Episcopal Church, 327 W. Hickory St. Â€ Prescription Assistance is available at the DeSoto County Health Department Clinic Location: 1031 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Call to make an appointment or for more information, call 491-7580 ext. 256. FRIDAYÂ€ The Photography Group of DeSoto Arts and Humanities Council meets the second Friday of each month 3:30 Â… 5 p.m. at the DeSoto Public Library. Free and open to the public. For more information email jamie.pipher@ gmail.com Â€ Peace River Civil War Round Table meets at 1:30 p.m. second Fridays monthly at the Emerald Pointe clubhouse, 25188 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda. Lunch available. For more information, call 941-575-4269 or 941-639-0782. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ Arcadia Quilt Club meets from 9-11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Palace Dance Hall, 1627 N.E. Floridian Circle, Arcadia. Â€ The DeSoto Public Library shows a free movie for seniors every Friday at 1 p.m. Â€ Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St. daily coffee and conversation 9-10 a.m. Low impact exercises from 9:30-10 a.m. On your own in the activity room from 10-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hour advance notice. Call 494-5965. Â€ iPads and eBooks Instruction and assistance with questions about using your digital devices at 3 p.m. every Friday at the DeSoto Public Library. Â€ Walk & Talk: gentle exercise and conversation at 8 a.m. every Friday at the DeSoto Public Library. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Hispanic meets at 7 p.m. at 426 N. Brevard Ave., next to El Charro Rest. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Second Tradition meets at 8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 900 W. Oak St. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Arcadia/Nocatee Group meets at 7 p.m. at Nocatee Methodist Church, 4502 S.W. Welles Ave. Â€ Square Dancing classes are held at the Palace Square Dance Hall, 1627 N.E. Floridian Circle, from 7-9 p.m. every Friday. Robert at 813-601-1834 or Mary at 941-380-5336 494-2749 for information. Â€ Faith Mission provides free lunches for anyone in need, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1109 S.E. 9th St., Arcadia. Donations gratefully accepted. SATURDAYÂ€ Mt. Zion AME Church holds its Spring Bazaar and Health Fair April 14, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 256 S. Orange Ave. Spaces are available for $10. Free refreshments. Call 244-1783for more information or to reserve a space. Â€ Teen Empowerment Summit, April 14, DeSoto Middle School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. By Prodigy Cultural Arts program. Free to teens ages 13-19. Prizes, breakfast, lunch, goodie bags. Sponsored by Precious Pearls and Drug-Free DeSoto Coalition. Â€ Saturday Night Lights takes place April 14 at the Tree of Knowledge Park, with activities such as rock painting and face painting from 6-8 p.m., followed by a showing of the movie ÂCocoÂŽ starting at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Â€ The Democratic WomenÂs Club of Desoto meets at 11:30 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Beef ÂOÂ BradyÂs, 1703 E Oak St. Â€ Friends of Arcadia Airport will host its 3rd Saturday All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast next Saturday at the Arcadia Municipal Airport in Hangar A-5. Â€ Peace River Audubon Society hosts a field trip to Fort DeSoto Park Pinellas County on April 14. Meet at the north carpool location at Walmart off Kings Highway at 7 a.m. and carpool to Fort DeSoto. Bring a wide brim hat, sunscreen, water, lunch, and binoculars if you have them. We will return after lunch in the early afternoon. For more information, call Mike Krzyzkowski at 244-2652. Free and open to the public. Â€ DeSoto County Library childrenÂs movies are offered at 10:30 a.m. at 125 N. Hillsborough Ave. every Saturday. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 993-4851 for more information or visit http://peaceriveraudubon. org. SUNDAYÂ€ Community Resource Center at the Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information available on local, out-of-town, and state agencies and programs serving the needs of DeSoto County residents. Stop by and check out the large array of brochures for residents of all age groups. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity Group meets at Grace Lutheran Church, 900 W. Oak St. (State Road 70) at 8 p.m. Sunday. Â€ Hispanic Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. Sunday at 426 Brevard Ave. next to El Charro Restaurant. MONDAYÂ€ AMVETS meet at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at Post 60, 2846 S.W. Highway 17 in Arcadia. For more information contact Tim Martin at 990-0185. Â€ DeSoto Amateur Radio Club meets at 6:30 p.m. third Monday monthly at the DeSoto County Emergency Operations Center, 2200 N.E. Roan St. Â€ The DeSoto County Fair Association meets at 7 p.m. third Mondays monthly in the fair office on Heard Street. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ All Faiths Food Bank and Sarasota County School District distribute free meals every Monday and Wednesday through August), 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Call 494-2543 for details. Â€ Women of Worship ÂWOWÂŽ WomenÂs ministry meets at 6:15 p.m. Monday at Freedom Fellowship Christian Ministries, 1528 N.E. Turner Ave. All are welcome. Â€ Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St., daily coffee and conversation 9-10 a.m. Movie of the Week or games in the Activity Room 9:30-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hr. advance notice; call 494-5965. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Second Tradition meets at St. EdmundÂs Episcopal Church, 327 W. Hickory St. at 8 p.m. Monday at 327 W. Hickory St. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Brown Baggers Group meets at noon Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Â€ Prescription Assistance is available at the DeSoto County Health Department Clinic, 1031 E. Oak St., Arcadia. To make an appointment or for more information, call 491-7580 ext. 256. TUESDAYÂ€ The public is invited to the Charlotte Sierra ClubÂs monthly meeting, always on the third Tuesday of each month (except during the summer). Meeting location is the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Bldg., 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte.For more information, call Allain Hale at 941-423-2713. Â€ The Republican Party of DeSoto County Executive Committee meets the third Tuesday of the month at MagnoliaÂs Seafood and Grill. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and takes place in the restaurantÂs rear seating area. For more information call Ted at 990-2888. Â€ Arcadia City Council meets at 6 p.m. at the Margaret Way Building, 23 N. Polk Ave., Arcadia. Â€ The Vietnam Brotherhood/Echo Company meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays at Post 60, 2846 S.W. Highway 17 in Arcadia. For more information call Tim Martin at 990-0185. Â€ DeSoto Public Library has a monthly Library Book Club at 3 p.m. Group book discussion open to everyone. Â€ DeSoto Memorial Hospital offers free blood pressure screenings from 3 to 4 p.m. in the DeSoto Memorial Hospital McSwain Room. Call 494-8432 for details. Â€ The AA District 5 committee business meeting is held at 8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at St. NathanielÂs Episcopal Church, 4200 S. Biscayne Dr., North Port. Visit http://aadistrict5.org for details. Â€ Tuesday Night Quilters meet twice monthly at the Turner Civic/Ag Center from 5:30-7 p.m. For more info call 494-4652. Â€ The DeSoto Public Library hosts Legos for children every Tuesday at 3 p.m. Â€ The Peace River Woodcarvers meet at 8 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arcadia. For information, call Dale Weese at 941-740-4790. Â€ The only Narcotics Anonymous now meets Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Church in Arcadia. For information, call Curtis at 244-2884. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ The Faith Mission holds a conversational English class from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. A coloring club is available for kids during the class. Â€ Rotary Club of Arcadia meets at noon every Tuesday in the McSwain Room at DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Â€ Freedom Fellowship Christian Ministries Support Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 1528 N.E. Turner Ave. Â€Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St., daily coffee and conversation 9-10 a.m. Group games 10-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hr. advance notice; call 494-5965. Â€ Every Tuesday night, line dance class at the Palace Dance Hall (17N). Beginners welcome. $3 donation. For more info, call Jennie Martin at 494-2749. Â€ Weight Watchers meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 1509 E. Oak St. For details visit www. weightwatchers.com and Âfind a meetingÂŽ or call 800-651-6000. Â€ DeSoto County Library holds Lego time at 3 p.m. Tuesdays at 125 N. Hillsborough Ave., Arcadia. Call 993-4851 for more information. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Second Tradition meets at 8 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Episcopal Church, 327 W. Hickory St. Â€ AA Hispanic Group meets at 8 pm. at La Clinica, 1901 10th Ave. Â€ Prescription Assistance is at the DeSoto County Health Department Clinic Location: 1031 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Call to make an appointment or for more information, call 491-7580 ext. 256. Â€ Suncoast Community Blood Bank is open from noon to 6 p.m. today at 710 N. Brevard Ave. (U.S. 17 North), Arcadia. For more information, call 993-9366. WEDNESDAYÂ€ Sen. Denise Grimsley will hold Mobile Office Hours in DeSoto County on April 18 from 10 a.m.-11 a.m., at the County Admin. Bldg., 201 E. Oak St., first floor behind commission chambers. Â€ Hour of Power Prayer time is held at noon at Freedom Fellowship Christian Ministries, 1528 N.E. Turner Ave. Â€ The Arcadia Writers Group meets from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at Arcadia Village in the Cantina Clubhouse, in the small dining room. For more information, call Sarah Hollenhorst at 244-1663. Â€ The First Marine Division Association meets at 11:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday at Family Table Restaurant, 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port. Call Carl Jones, 941-4931408 for more information. Â€ DeSoto County Traffic Safety Team meets at 1:30 p.m. third Wednesdays monthly at the DeSoto County Commissioners room, 201 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Â€ Hearing Loss Association demonstrates amplified listening devices from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. third Wednesdays monthly at Charlotte County Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. For more information about HLA meetings, call 941-624-2947. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free meals every Wednesday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Â€ Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St. Low impact exercises from 9:30-10 a.m. LetÂs Talk Food share recipes, coupons, tips, research, dietary from 10-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hr. advance notice; call 494-5965. Â€ Hour of Power Prayer time is held at noon at Freedom Fellowship Christian Ministries, 1528 N.E. Turner Ave. Â€ AA ÂBrown BaggerÂŽ meetings are offered every Wednesday at noon at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity meets at 8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 900 W. Oak St. (State Road 70). Â€ ÂArt for KidsÂŽ is at 3 p.m. every Wednesday in the DeSoto County LibraryÂs childrenÂs wing. This free program, sponsored by the DeSoto County Arts and Humanities Council, is for elementary school-aged children. Â€ Prescription Assistance is available at the DeSoto County Health Department Clinic Location: 1031 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Call to make an appointment or for more information, call 491-7580 ext. 256. THURSDAYÂ€ Top 10 Things You Can Do for Arthritis is a freed seminar presented by Bayfront Health and Friendship Centers of DeSoto County, from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. April 19, at the Friendship Centers, 219 W. Oak Street. RSVP is required; call 494-5965 to sign up. Â€ Are you a mother of a child with special needs? Would you like to connect with other mothers going through similar situations? Join us the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. for a time to connect and fellowship at Pine Creek Chapel, 1267 S.W. Pine Chapel Dr. in Arcadia. For more information, call or text Heather at 444-0817 Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank will distribute free food to those in need on the third Thursday of each month, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the 7th Day Adventist Church, 2865 SE Ami Drive. Â€ The regular meeting of the Arcadian Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is held at noon on the third Thursday of every month at the Arcadia Housing Authority, 7 Booker T Washington Road. Call 494-4343 for details. Â€ The DeSoto Amateur Radio Club meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the DeSoto County Emergency Operations Center, 2200 Roan St., Arcadia. Anyone interested may attend. Talk in for the meetings is at 147.180+ DARC repeater. Â€ Family Safety Alliance for DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, sponsored by Department of Children and Families, meets at 4 p.m. third Thursdays monthly at Lakewood Ranch Northern Trust BankÂs community room, 6320 Venture Drive, Lakewood Ranch. For information, call Kerri Gibson at 941-316-6129. Â€ DeSoto County Historical Society Research Library is open in the Ingraham Seed House, 120 W. Whidden Street: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays (except for the second Thursday of the month), and second and fourth Saturdays, and by appointment. Â€ The John Morgan Ingraham House museum, 120 W. Whidden St., is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays, except the second Thursday, and second and fourth Saturdays. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 9 a.m. to noon every Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 304 W. Oak St. Mt. Zion AME Church holds its Spring Bazaar and Health Fair April 14, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 256 S. Orange Ave. Spaces are available for $10. Free refreshments. 863-244-1783 Â€ The DeSoto Public Library hosts Adult Coloring sessions every Thursday at 1 p.m. Bring your own work or see what the library has for you to color. Â€ Kiwanis meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at Beef OÂBradyÂs. Â€ The only Narcotics Anonymous now meets Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Church in Arcadia. For information, call Curtis at 244-2884. Â€Friendship Center, 219 W. Oak St., daily coffee and conversation 9-10 a.m. Crafts or games in the Activity Room from 10-11 a.m. Lunch available with a 48-hr. advance notice; call 494-5965. Â€ The All Faiths Food Bank distributes free food 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Needy, 161 S. Orange St. Â€ DeSoto County Library story time is at 3 p.m. at 125 N. Hillsborough Ave., Arcadia. Call 993-4851 for more information. Â€ Faith Mission provides free lunches for anyone in need, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1109 S.E. 9th St., Arcadia. Donations gratefully accepted. Â€ Alcoholics Anonymous Second Tradition meets at 7 p.m. at St. EdmundÂs Episcopal Church, 327 W. Hickory St. Â€ Prescription Assistance is available at the DeSoto County Health Department Clinic Location: 1031 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Call to make an appointment or for more information, call 491-7580 ext. 256.

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 7 | Arcadian Guillermo Thomas Castro, 18, was recently arrested in connection with multiple car burglaries that happened in March. Both the DeSoto County SheriffÂs OfÂ“ce and Arcadia Police Department were involved in investigating the cases before arrests were made. According to the arrest reports, area residents began reporting car break-ins on March 12. A woman on Eastling Avenue reported her vehicle was broken into and a purse, jewelry and cash, totaling $1,200, value, were missing. Another woman on the street was missing an bank envelope containing $2,000 from her vehicle. A man on S.E. 8th Avenue said a cell phone was missing from his truck. A day later, a man on DeSoto Landing reported waking up to see two males breaking into cars; he knocked on the window and the two left the area. Nearby, a $300 i8Phone was stolen from a truck. A break-in was reported on S.E. 5th Avenue in which a riÂ”e and ammunition were stolen from a truck. Vehicles at Jacaranda Trails Apartments were also reportedly broken into. Another victim said his truck on Whispering Pine Drive was broken into and his wallet, containing $40 cash and his Mexican ID card, was missing. A victim on S.E. Hargrave Street discovered her car had been broken into. She happened to have security video, which showed three people entering her car, one of whom was wearing a distinctive Virgin Mary shirt. Three victims on S.E. Whispering Pine Drive said their cars had been entered but nothing appeared to be missing. The following night, three victims on S.E. Delaware Court also said their cars had been broken into but nothing seemed to have been taken. APD detectives identiÂ“ed a person of interest who was interviewed on March 16. He admitted to having been involved with several car burglaries, and admitted to possessing Â“rearms. Authorities noted he was wearing a Virgin Mary shirt matching the one seen in one of the security videos. When questioned about the break-ins, he implicated three more people, including Castro. Burglaries continued even after that witness was in custody. On March 25, two vehicles in the Â“rst block of West Imogene Street were reportedly burglarized. As police were investigating those incidents, they found several more vehicles on the same street had been left open, the contents disturbed or spilled out onto the ground. In West Gibson Street, a man reported that cell phones, credit cards and some cash had been taken from inside his home. More vehicles had been burglarized on West Granger Street and Winifred Street.Arrest made in multiple car burglaries CASTROIn July 2016, a woman reported more than $800 had been taken out of her bank account, and because of it she incurred more than $100 in overdraft fees before she realized the money was missing. She told deputies her driverÂs license and Ceron sentenced to prison on forgery, theft chargesThe DeSoto County SheriffÂs OfÂ“ce reported the arrest of Harry Milton Drymon III, 39, on charges related to stalking, burglary and violation of a protective order. According to DCSOÂs arrest report, in March, a woman ended a three-year relationship with Drymon. He began texting her that he loved her, or he hated her. One day she found locks on her home had been welded shut shortly after she had seen him near the house. The house was set on Â“re and her vehicle had been vandalized. She called DCSO, and she was urged to seek a protective order. They also helped place game cameras on her property. The woman secured an injunction. When deputies served it on Drymon, he failed to surrender his Â“rearms as required. On April 4 the woman reported Drymon had violated the protective order she had against him; as she arrived home from running errands, she found him exiting her house. She confronted him, saying he was not supposed to be there because she had an order against him. He took off on foot. Images from game cameras showed him entering her property at 3 a.m., then exiting and reentering several times until 11:30 a.m. Some of the images showed him carrying a riÂ”e and wearing a cap. Deputies began searching for Drymon around his residence, using a helicopter from the Sarasota CountyÂs sheriff and a K-9 from DeSoto Correctional Institution. When she entered the house she found a cap and a riÂ”e (which was loaded, with a live round in the chamber) on the sofa. She Sheriff: man held on stalking, burglary charges DRYMONalso discovered chemicals had been poured over her underwear in a drawer, and that some of her clothing for work had been destroyed by chemicals or being cut up. Drymon later turned himself in to DCSO and was taken into custody. He denied burning her house, welding her locks or vandalizing her car. While he said he had been in the house looking for something he needed for work, he denied bring a riÂ”e. But when confronted with the evidence he reportedly admitted bringing the riÂ”e, and pouring chemicals on the womanÂs clothes. He also allegedly said he had welded the locks because, when he found out she had changed her locks, he decided if he couldnÂt get in, then she wouldnÂt either. Drymon was arrested on charges of aggravated stalking, harassing or cyberstalking after issuance of a protective injunction, two counts of aggravated stalking after issuance of a no-contact order, armed burglary of a dwelling, petty theft and criminal mischief with property damage between $200 and $1,000. The bond for the two charges of stalking after issuance of a no-contact order was $100,000 each, and a $200,000 bond was set for the armed burglary, but there was no bond for the aggravated stalking or cyberstalking after issuance of the injunction. ARRESTS | 22On March 27, several more car burglaries occurred within the Arcadia city limits, as well as Ora, Snow, Sunset and Lee streets in the county. On March 28, additional burglaries were reported on Bridle Path, Kelly Drive, OÂHara Street and Johnson Avenue in the city. Witnesses reported seeing two suspects running across a front porch wearing hooded sweatshirts. Although ofÂ“cers tried to track them Â„ even using K-9 assistance from the Hardee County SheriffÂs OfÂ“ce Â„ they were unable to located them. Detectives went to the home of the father of one of the individuals who had been implicated, and found four young men (including Castro) inside. One of those four reportedly admitted to being involved in several car break-ins. One night, they were involved in some break-ins as Castro allegedly drove up driving a golf cart. A golf cart was reported stolen from a home on East Maple Street, and two more cars had been burglarized, with Â“shing equipment and cash taken from one, and electronic chargers from the other. The golf cart was found later that evening, crashed into a ditch. The young men allegedly continued to take things from cars, the arrest report says, including several cell phones. Detectives found several items in the house, as well as wet and dirty clothes consistent with running through brush and weeds. Detectives questioned Castro who initially denied any involvement in or knowledge about the car burglaries. However, reportedly he later admitted to planning burglaries with one of the other participants. He allegedly said they saw a riÂ”e inside a truck on S.E. 5th Avenue and broke the window while the other person took the gun and ammunition. Some additional vehicles were entered by smashing windows, while others had been left outside unlocked. According to APD, Castro admitted to two car burglaries but denied involvement with additional burglaries that occurred in the same vicinity. Castro was charged with three counts of unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, 15 counts of unarmed burglary of unoccupied conveyance, three counts of grand theft between $100-$300, grand theft of Â“rearm, armed burglary of a dwelling, structure or conveyance, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a delinquent adult, two counts of criminal mischief with $200-$1,000 property damage, three counts of petty theft, three counts of grand theft between $300-$5,000 and one count of retail theft between $100-$300. He has entered a plea of not guilty and demanded a jury trial. He is being held without bond at the DeSoto County Jail. Two of the juveniles involved were also arrested. Everyone deserves to live a long and healthy life in a safe environment. To make this happen, we must tackle the causes of poor health and disease risk among individuals and within our communities. Where we live, work, worship and play impacts each of us and can determine our health and how long we live. In the workplace, let's partner across public and private sectors to make sure decisions are made with the public's health in mind. Within our communities, let's start new conversations with our neighbors and be advocates for positive change. Working together, we can build healthier communities and, eventually, the healthiest nation. But we need your help to get there. Join us in observing NPHW 2018 and become part of a growing movement to create the healthiest nation in one generation. During the week, we will celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, share strategies for successful partnerships and champion the role of a strong public health system. Join APHAÂs 1 Billion Steps Challenge at http://www.nphw.org/get-involved/steps-challenge For more information about NPHW, visit www.nphw.org or follow on adno=720398 adno=720216 ÂYour freedom matters to usÂŽ Mon Fri 8AM 4PM 24/7 Service Blanding & Gloria Bail Bonds 18 E. Oak St. | Arcadia 863-494-1184 adno=720399 118 N. Brevard Ave., Arcadia, FL New Location

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Arcadian | Page 8 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 Family AlbumFAMILY ALBUM PHOTOSSend us a photo to celebrate a birth, birthday, engagement, wedding, anniversary, etc. The Arcadian will run it free. We must have it no later than noon on Monday. Bring your photo to the office or e-mail to Arcadian.editor@gmail.comMany thanks from the Guardian ad Litem program to the Arcadia WomenÂs Club for generously donating Easter basket items to a family with 11 children and ensuring that each child received Easter gifts. Thank you for demonstrating such kindness and charity. Guardian ad Litem Program also wishes to thank several groups from the Live Oak RV Resort for donating to abused and neglected children of Desoto County. Live Oak RV Park donated, the WomenÂs Executive Organization donated, as well as the quilters group and the Rouge Chapeaux group. The Guardian ad Litem Program provides a voice on behalf of FloridaÂs abused, abandoned and neglected children and be recognized and respected as a partnership of community advocates and professional staff. Thank you to Arcadia WomenÂs Club Members of the Live Oak quilters group that includes Guardian ad Litem volunteers Ken and Jan Boyd. Live OakÂs Rouge Chapeaux members and volunteers. ARCADIAN PHOTOS PROVIDEDPictured are Tammy Lowe, Guardian ad Litem volunteer; Linda Waters, Arcadia WomenÂs Club; Sandee Woods and Luz Arreguin, Guardian ad Litem staers.Local author Mel Jackson has released an audio version of his book ÂRunaway.ÂŽ The 256-page book subtitled ÂA Young BoyÂs Story of Longing for the Love of his FatherÂŽ and released in 2006 by Faith Baptist Church Publications, details JacksonÂs life in Ohio that included time in a mental-health center as a small boy, among other challenges. Though the book lists itself as a novel, Jackson insisted the details are true. ÂHere is my attempt,ÂŽ Jackson wrote in the bookÂs preface, Âto set to paper an experience that, to a boy, made no sense. At times when I told my childhood stories to my children, it was to cause them to laugh. Now I will attempt to inform, sadden and also amuse.ÂŽ ÂRunawayÂŽ is presented in scenes in Forest Melvin JacksonÂs early childhood, from imagining himself running away with a circus, to more serious issues such as alcoholism, emotional abuse, money instability/ bouncing from home to home, and later learning that his father lived a double life with a second family. The strangest sequence is time he spent ÂwarehousedÂŽ in a mental-health center for what he described as bogus allegations. One year in a hospital with seriously ill adults and others his age was both funny and quite sad, as his mother couldnÂt spring him free. There were also powerful scenes of JacksonÂs strong relationships with an aunt and his mother, later Â“nding step-family into adulthood. Of course, we know his journey from dark periods ends well, as Jackson is a regular at the Brew Crew gatherings in downtown Arcadia. ÂI learned about myself and about my father,ÂŽ Jackson said of writing his story. ÂAnd as I read the chapters, I realized that my father was a runaway too; in fact, more than I was.ÂŽ Jackson, who is 67 and appears locally on WFLN 1480 with radio personality Jack Welch, recorded the audio of ÂRunawayÂŽ at his Arcadia home. Even with modern recording software, the work was harder than he imagined, he said: Â[You] get tongue-tied,ÂŽ he said. ÂAnd reading it you want to put expression into it, read it and re-read it. That was the toughest part.ÂŽ Mel JacksonÂs ÂRunawayÂŽ in print and audio is available online and at Amazon. Local author releases audio book, Mel JacksonÂs incredible storyBy CRAIG GARRETTARCADIAN EDITOR ARCADIAN PHOTO PROVIDEDMel Jackson has released an audio version of his book ÂRunaway,ÂŽ a childhood story. SunCoast Communities Blood Bank held its annual Awards Breakfast on April 6 for their RV Park Blood Drive Challenge at DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Eleven Arcadia/DeSoto County RV parks hosted 16 blood drives between Jan. 1 and March 31. During this time span the RV parks donated/collected an amazing 406 units of blood products. Riverside RV Resort was the overall winner, Lettuce Lake Travel Resort had the highest average collected and the most improved was Oak Haven MH and RV Park. That means that because of their support and dedication, our hospitals will be able to save up to 1,218 lives! RV parks participating in the drives included: Brookside Bluff RV CraigÂs RV Park Cross Creek RV Park Little Willies RV Resort Big Tree RV Resort TobyÂs RV Resort Arcadia Village CC Riverside RV Resort Lettuce Lake Travel Resort Oak Haven Park LLC Live Oak RV Resort & Golf CourseBlood drive celebrated at DeSoto Memorial HospitalDESOTO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL STAFF SunCoast Blood Bank thanked DeSoto County resort park volunteers and others for a successful 2018 campaign. ARCADIAN PHOTOS PROVIDEDSunCoast Blood Bank held its Awards Breakfast on April 6 at DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Let The DONÂT BE LEFT IN THE DARK! Light Your Way! Your source for local, national & world news.

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 9 | Arcadian | OBITUARIESLarry BullionLarry Bullion was born Feb. 13, 1949, to the late Allen and Myrtle Bullion in Kingsport, Tennessee. He passed away on April 6, 2018, in Port Charlotte, Fla. He is survived by his children: Matthew (Maria) Bullion, Larry (Stephanie) Bullion Jr., David Rios, Juan Rios, Sabrina (Shawn Barney) Deriso; grandchildren: Sierra Little, Sybil Deriso, Nicholas Rios, Mitchell Rios, Alex Rios, Devin Rios, Savanna Barney, Saige Barney, Todd Bullion, Jason Rios, Riley Rios, John Paul Rios and Ruby Rios; great-grandchildren: Kenzie Durie, Karaline Allen; brothers: Jerry, Charles, Bill, David and James Bullion; sisters: Betty Bullion and Linda Pacillo. Mr. Bullion is preceded in death by his wife and best friend of 34 years, Elena; parents: Allen and Myrtle, brothers: Robert and Kenneth Bullion. Larry liked to collect old model cars and work on them, but what he loved the most was spending time with family. Services were handled by PongerKays-Grady Funeral Homes in Arcadia, Fla. Online condolences can be made at pongerkaysgrady.com. ItÂs an honor to have had a loving, caring and devoted mother like the one I had. ItÂs with great pleasure to say that Martha Jean Summersett was loved by many, especially from her kids and grandkids. As we know that God makes no mistakes and we shouldnÂt question his Master Plan, the pain we suffer daily is not easy. We must hold each otherÂs hands and make our motherÂs memories last forever in our hearts. Our mother left behind eight children, 31 grandkids, two greatgrands and a lot of family members and friends. What a blessing. Her life was filled with love, joy, and most of all she knew and loved the Lord. It has been a whole year that you been called home, and if Heaven had a phone, this is what I would have said: ÂHi mother, I miss and love you dearly. I think about you every day. I miss our early morning calls and our ÂI love yous.ÂŽ I miss you saying leave those kids alone. I miss you sitting on the porch drinking your ice tea and asking each one of us: who going to pay my lottery? If Heaven had a phone, I know your grandkids will say, grandma come home, only because they are so young and donÂt quite understand. Our birthdays, holidays and get-togethers arenÂt the same without you here. But I can honestly sayÂ„we feel your presence, and if Heaven had a highway, you would invite us to see how God made you to be our Guardian Angel to watch over us. ItÂs been a whole year. How do we connect the pieces ... and this is what you would have said. YÂall lips represent the kisses you should give to each other, especially your kids. YÂall pictures represent the memories we share and can look back just to smile. YÂall hands represent us holding each other and never letting go. YÂall eyes represent how you see others as sisters and brothers. YÂall hearts represent me as a whole. I loved yÂall unconditionally. You raised us and taught us life lessons. You never gave up on us. You prayed for us daily. Mom, you fought a good fight. You already knew this battle was already won by our Heavenly Father. You kept the faith! So now, momma, I can say well done!Remembering mother, our Guardian Angel PHOTO PROVIDEDThe family of Martha Jean Summersett. Sunrise Sunset 06-18-57 04-19-17 OBITUARY POLICY Obituaries are accepted from funeral homes only. ThereÂs no charge for publishing an abbreviated death notice. Full obituaries and repeat death notices will be subject to an advertising charge. Obituaries must be submitted to the Charlotte Sun; call 941-206-1000 for details. Please send e-mails to obituaries@sun-herald.com. The American ag accompanying and obituary indicates a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Have there ever been so many things to terrorize us? Yes. And then some! Following the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960s, President Kennedy, sensing the growing menace of nuclear weapons in the world, warned that each day was drawing us nearer to the hour of maximum danger. We lived through the Cold War, sleeping, waking and going about our daily tasks zeroed into the missile sights of a powerful enemy bent on our destruction. The six nuclear powers of that era possessed Â“repower equal to Â“ve tons of TNT for every man, woman and child on earth. When the Civil Defense Department promoted the construction of home bomb shelters, the idea sounded so good to me that I ordered instruction booklets for their building and placed them on a table in the church where I was the pastor. One day a member of the church, known for his strong faith, stood with me near the table eyeing this stack of lifesavers and said, ÂI donÂt think weÂll need them.ÂŽ ÂWhy not?ÂŽ I asked. ÂI believe the Lord will take care of usÂŽ he replied. This man didnÂt need a bomb shelter because he already had one: his faith in God. We all walk danger trails and were doing so long before the present titans of terror were on the scene. Our Lord said wars and rumors of wars would continue so when they keep showing up we should Â“nd our faith increasing. A friend of mine was captured by Nazi forces during World War II. While he was imprisoned, Allied bombing of the area kept increasing until the danger of being destroyed by friendly Â“re became a greater threat to his survival than imprisonment by his enemies. Anxiety over this two-way jeopardy would have been unbearable had it not been for a verse in the Psalms that provided him strength and hope: ÂCast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee,ÂŽ (Psalm 55:22) a fear Â“ghter that I keep on the wall of my ofÂ“ce and read every morning. During HitlerÂs long and vicious bombing of London, a woman displayed such personal peace that her friends were amazed. While others found it impossible to sleep at night during those fearful raids, she rested easily. When asked how she could do so, she replied she had read in the Bible that God never sleeps and couldnÂt see any reason for both of them to stay awake. A troubled man once told me he was so Â“lled with fear that he had lived his entire adult life within a seven mile radius of his home. He also conÂ“ded that he continually carried a motorcycle in his van so he could escape if ever caught in a trafÂ“c jam. Make no mistake, terrorists at home and abroad want to keep us in that kind of bondage and we must not allow them to do so. This morning a stanza of ÂAmazing GraceÂŽ became my fear Â“ghter for the day: ÂThrough many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ÂTis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.ÂŽ Roger Campbell was an author, a broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years. A new book containing over one hundred of his best columns, ÂEverywhere You Go ThereÂs a Zacchaeus Up a Tree,ÂŽ is now available at your local or online bookseller. Contact us at rcministry@ ameritech.net.Taking the terror out of terrorism Roger Campbell Ministries HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE SHED CLEANOUTTHE DESOTO COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION WILL BE HOLDING A HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY. LOCATION: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION BARN LOCATED AT THE DESOTO COUNTY LANDFILL 3268 SW DISHONG AVENUE ARCADIA, FLORIDA DATE: APRIL 14TH, 2018 TIME: 9:00 AM UNTIL 1:00 PMITEMS FOR COLLECTION: PESTICIDES POOL CHEMICALS ANTIFREEZE PAINTS SOLVENTS/THINNERS DEGREASERS MURIATIC ACID BRAKE FLUIDS CLEANING FLUIDSNOTE: ITEMS SUCH AS USED MOTOR OIL CAN BE DISPOSED OF DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS (7:30 AM Â… 5:30 PM) AT NO CHARGE (UP TO 5 GALLONS). WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ITEMS SUCH AS PROPANE CYLINDERS, INFECTIOUS MATERIALS (MEDICAL WASTE), OR EXPLOSIVES (FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION, FLARES, ETC.) PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHED CLEAN OUT IS FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE ONLY. IF YOU ARE A COMMERCIAL USER, YOU MAY CALL FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING PRICES FOR DISPOSAL OF YOUR MATERIALS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: DESOTO COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION 863-993-4826 a dno=720126

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Arcadian | Page 10 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 The DeSoto County Republican Executive Committee hosted its 2018 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner fundraiser on April 3. Guests from Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Highlands and DeSoto counties Â“lled up more than 175 seats at the Turner Agri-Civic Center in Arcadia. The evening began with a presentation of colors by the DDeSoto County High School JROTC unit and the National Anthem was performed by local/Nashville recording artist Chris MacArthur. Emceeing the evening was Kay Reed, who thanked everyone for attending, including the eveningÂs Presenting Sponsor, Mosaic. Not only did Republicans convene to reÂ”ect and look ahead on upholding their conservative values, but so did several local ÂBlue Dog Democrats.Â As these business leaders, politicians, and other interested voters ate their Smokin Joe BBQ dinners, The Kollections, a local band, provided the nightÂs entertainment. The eveningÂs Â“rst speaker was District 26 Sen. Denise Grimsley. A Â“fth-generation Floridian, Denise served in the Florida House of Representatives for eight years and has served in the Senate since 2012. In addition to her political responsibilities, she serves as a hospital administrator for Florida Hospital. Grimsley is currently a candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. Kathleen King, chair of the Manatee County GOP and FloridaÂs national committeewoman to the RNC, reÂ”ected on the current state of the Republican Party of Florida. The eveningÂs keynote speaker was Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam. Elected commissioner in 2010, Adam was born in Bartow and is a Â“fth-generation Floridian who grew up in the citrus and cattle industry and knows the Florida Heartland. Putnam shared his Florida First agenda and vision for FloridaÂs future. Adam spoke with passion regarding DeSoto Republicans host Lincoln-Reagan DinnerBy ERNIE HEWETTARCADIAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Dr. Louis Kirschner, State Attorney Ed Brodsky and RPOF Robert Staton Adam Putnam and Kay Reed Kay and Will Wise and Julie Fussell DeSoto County commissioner Judy Schaefer, Tax Collector Kathy Hill, DeSoto commissioner Terry Hill and Michelle Potter Melony Bell and Vincent Sica Barbara Kirschner and Asena Mott Mary Kaye Burns, Bobby and Amy Bennett Adam Putnam, Pat and Tim BackerARCADIAN PHOTOS BY ERNIE HEWETTAshley Coone and Jackie Tucker DINNER | 17 Lewis and Murial Hall

PAGE 11

The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 11 | Arcadian efÂ“ciency of operationsÂŽ and consolidate its property. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of bridges were constructed over Peace River at Arcadia. The iron bridge built by the Converse Bridge Co. was repaired/remodeled by Will Garner in 1919; the Dec. 5, ÂDeSoto County NewsÂŽ declared the bridge ÂThere For All Time.ÂŽ However, the headline in the May 5, 1922, ÂArcadianÂŽ belied that claim: ÂNew Peace River Bridge Advised by Grand Jurors. . The condition of the bridge across Peace River is such as to warrant the county commissioners in taking steps for a new one.ÂŽ The Oct. 5, 1924, issue reported: ÂThe contract for the Peace River bridge was let Saturday afternoon to the Luten Bridge Company of York, Pa., and Palatka, Fla., getting the contract for $2,500. The work is to begin upon the bridge within the next thirty days and is to be completed within 180 working days.ÂŽ The bridge was Â“nished in June 1925. The Luten Bridge Co. was named for Daniel B. Luten (1869-1946), who in 1894 graduated fromÂ„and then was appointed an instructor of civil engineering atÂ„the University of Michigan. He resigned after a year to become an instructor at Purdue University. In 1900, he resigned to practice engineering and by 1901 focused exclusively on the plans forÂ„and construction ofÂ„ reinforced concrete bridges. After Â“ve years he concentrated on concepts only, and in 23 years of experience designed 20,000 bridgesÂ„probably including the one in Arcadia (http://www4.lib.purdue. edu/archon/?p=collections/Â“ndingaid&id=59&q=&rootcontentid=8598). The Sept. 22, 1927, ÂArcadianÂŽ recounted that as soon as the Ânew concrete bridge was put into service,ÂŽ the old iron bridge had been Âclosed to trafÂ“c.ÂŽ That week Âa crew of county convicts [worked] at removing the old iron bridge over Peace River. This eyesore will soon be a thing of the past as the workmen seem to be making a thorough job of cleaning away the debris.ÂŽ The June 21, 1928, ÂArcadianÂŽ reported that the Lions Club had stressed the need for bridge lighting to the city council: ÂThe electric lights on Peace River bridge are now doing their duty, having been turned on for the Â“rst time on Tuesday evening. They help the appearance of the west approach to the city even more than had been anticipated. . W. W. Pohlman (1870-1934), electrician, did the work of installing the lights.ÂŽ During the Great Depression the city voted to turn off street lights, including the ones on the bridge, as a cost-saving measure. (The electric company did not comply until equipment failed, and then forgave the cityÂs outstanding bill, but thatÂs another story.) The lights were also Âshort-lived because of persistent vandalism,ÂŽ according to Howard Melton in his book ÂFootprints and Landmarks: Arcadia, and DeSoto County, Florida.ÂŽ Even without lighting, the bridge served until 1961, when the current State Road 70 bridges were built to accommodate the new four-lane highwayÂ„aka W. Oak Street. The bridges were dedicated to Gen. S. ChesterÂ“eld Smith (1895-1969), who served in the Florida National Guard during the Mexican conÂ”ict as well as in World Wars I and II, as ArcadiaÂs mayor from 1947-1951 and as a state representative from 1951-1967. The 1925 bridge was closed to trafÂ“c in 1985, and in 2012 it was designated the connector between the paved trail in Veterans Memorial Park and Morgan Park.BRIDGEFROM PAGE 1 The Florida Department of Transportation will repair the old bridge. No timeline has been given. A view from the old bridge to the newer Peace River overpass. Morning walkers such as George Posadas regularly use the old bridge to cross the Peace River. A postcard of the old bridge. ARCADIAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORYBuilt in 1925, the old Peace River bridge included lighting for easier passage. Pilings from the old iron bridge remain visible through the farthest left arch of the newer structure. adno=720377 Exclusive Subscriber Benefits Â€ Print home delivery Â€ Themed special sections Â€ Pull-out shopping circulars Your T o w n Your T r u s t e d N e w s T e a m Prefer Paperless News? A r c a d i a n Stay in the know with comprehensive news coverage from around town. Enjoy Unlimited online, tablet, and mobile access with an e-subscription! Special Digital Subscription Introductory Rate print Â€ online Â€ mobile 863-494-2434 www.yoursun.net

PAGE 12

Arcadian | Page 12 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 Sons of Confederate Veterans, military veterans, family, guest speakers, historians and friends celebrated Confederate History Month on April 7 at Veterans Memorial Park in Arcadia. The event was to honor all veterans from DeSoto County and the descendants of those men and women. It was also to encourage the preservation of history, perpetuate the memories of brave men and all Southern soldiers.Honoring history, a tribute Honor Guard posting for the morning ceremony. Gun salute by the DeSoto County Honor Guard. Taps played by Arthur Southwell. Portraying soldiers at the special celebration of American veterans on April 7 are Ernie Wusdin, Matthe w Slightsey, Tom Fyock and Gene Maben. A ringing of the camp bell for fallen soldiers is a somber part of the tribute that remains in place to this day. Visitors standing in tribute. DeSoto Schools Supt. Adrian Cline shares the history of soldiers from our area.The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 13 | Arcadian at Veterans Memorial Park ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY PRISCILLA MCDANIEL w McCague, Carl McIntyre, Henry Sebring, Cli Camp GouldingÂs ancestor was Capt. Francis A. Hendry. The youngster performed ceremonial duties. Authentic uniforms and dress complete the tribute to south FloridaÂs history and traditions. Other songs and prayers to honor the history of DeSoto County. Carl McIntyre provides remarks.

PAGE 13

SPORTS DeSotoEXTRA The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Arcadian | Page 14 When Southeast brought their baseball team to Arcadia last week, it might have been a good thing for the fans to bring a comfortable seat to the game. The Â“rst meeting between these teams resulted in a 13-inning win for the Seminoles. The rematch also went extra innings before the Bulldogs could pull out a 7-6 win in nine innings. In most games there is a key hit or performance that turned the game into a win. There were many players who could have laid claim to being the hero of the game. However, it turned out to be an unlikely player who came up big to get the win. Tyler MansÂ“eld had two hits in the game and laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases in the fourth inning that led to the Bulldogs breaking a two-all tie. Carlos Valenzuela gave up just two runs in his Â“ve innings on the mound and kept his team in the game until they could score after jumping ahead with two in the Â“rst inning. Braden Steele looked like a strong candidate to be the one to make the play to give the Bulldogs their win. He had a pair of hits and stole two bases, including an exciting steal of home in the four-run, fourth inning. That steal put DeSoto back on top after the Seminoles had tied it in the top of the fourth. Steele also made a nice play at third to end the Southeast rally in the fourth. When the Seminoles threatened to rally in the Â“fth with two on and just one out, it was Steele who came up with a hard hit ball to turn a nice 5-4-3 twin killing to maintain their 6-2 lead. A strong case could be made for freshman hurler Logan Adams. The big righthander took the mound in the sixth inning with the tying run on base, a 3-0 count on the batter and no outs. A squeeze bunt tied the game, but Adams went on to shut down the Seminoles over the Â“nal four innings to get the win. He fanned seven in his Â“rst three innings of relief. Most impressive of AdamsÂs stint on the hill came in the eighth inning when the Â“rst two batters got on and he went to a 3-0 count on the next hitter. He came back to strike him out and the next two hitters too. Adams also had two hits and knocked in the Â“nal two runs in the fourth before DeSoto went scoreless over the next four innings. In the ninth inning, Jade Zepeda drew a lead-off walk and was sacriÂ“ced to second. The stage was set for Adams to score the speedy Zepeda with a base hit, but he grounded out to move Zepeda to third. Eli Wilhelm was intentionally walked to bring up Cameron Day. With Steele waiting on deck, I made my prediction in the dugout that heÂd get the game-winning hitÂ„it had just been that kind of day for Steele. MansÂ“eld said, ÂYou watch, Cammy (Cameron Day) has been clutch for us all year. HeÂll get the hit to win it.ÂŽ It had also been one of Âthose kinds of daysÂŽ for Day too, although not in a good way. He had worn the collar through the entire game and hadnÂt even gotten the ball out of the inÂ“eld. His Â“elderÂs choice in the Â“rst was followed by three straight strikeouts, all caught looking. Day didnÂt seem like the likely candidate to deliver the game-winning hit. Moments later MansÂ“eld turned to me and pointed and said, ÂWhat did I tell ya ?ÂŽ Day had ripped a line drive over the third basemanÂs head into the corner to score Zepeda with the winning run and give DeSoto a hard fought 7-6 win. With the winning run in the books, Day said: ÂI saw my teammates come running at me and knew they were going to jump on me ... but I couldnÂt run away, so I just said, ÂOh well, let them jump on me.ÂÂŽ Asked if he was surprised over getting the game-winning hit after a rough start to the game, Day replied: ÂThatÂs baseball, you never know what is going to happen, so you just keep playing and sometimes good things happen.ÂŽUnlikely hero in Bulldog win, Âsometimes good things happenÂBy STEVE KNAPPARCADIAN SPORTS EDITOR Braden Steele slides in safely and gives the umpire help with the call on a steal of home to put the Bulldogs on top in their 7-6 win. ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY STEVE KNAPPTyler Manseld gets caught leaning a little too far in this steal attempt. The speedy centerelder got out of the run-down and out ran the second baseman back to the bag in the 7-6 DeSoto win over Southeast. Second-sacker Mason Ayers gets the toss from shortstop Jade Zepeda and ips to rst to get the back end of a double play for the Bulldogs in the win in nine innings. The DeSoto County JV baseball team struggled with making a couple of routine plays and those mistakes built up and turned into a 15-5 loss last week at the hands of the Sebring Blue Streaks. The Streaks scored four times in the Â“rst, as the defense was no friend to starting pitcher Kyle Tanner. The Â“rst batter reached on an error and after a walk and a pair of stolen bases, a single was bobbled in the outÂ“eld as the Sebring coach waved his runner home to score. The same thing happened later in the inningÂ„a run scored on a play in which the runner would have stopped at third if not for the dropped ball when the outÂ“elder failed to come up with the ball cleanly. Later in the game centerÂ“elder Danny Shea came up with a ball cleanly and riÂ”ed a strike to catcher Trenton Stone to easily nail the runner trying to score. That slowed down the Streaks on the base paths, as the outÂ“eld came up with all the other balls in the rest of the game. Sebring blew the game open in the fourth and Â“fth innings, scoring Â“ve times in each inning to break open a tied game. Both innings were extended by throwing errors. The Bulldogs still had a pulse and had a chance to get back into the game in the Â“fth. But after that Â“nal error, the next hitter tripled in a couple of runs and later scored to put the game out of reach. ÂClearly, weÂve got work to do,ÂŽ Bulldog coach Eric Shea said. ÂAll it takes is one error and we get in trouble. WeÂve got to focus and make routine plays that we are supposed to make and things would be way different. That score wouldnÂt have been anywhere near what it was. ÂIf we played better defense, itÂs a totally different game.ÂŽ The Â“rst inning was an unusual inning for both teams. While the Streaks scored four times on an error, walk, wild pitch and three singles, the Bulldogs had a chance to go ahead but came up a run short. DeSoto had just four base hits in the Routine plays trigger BulldogsÂ downfall, Streaks grab 15 runs in the winBy STEVE KNAPPARCADIAN SPORTS EDITOR ARCADIAN PHOTO BY STEVE KNAPPThe nicest defensive play of the game goes to Bulldog coach Eric Shea, catching this one hopper bare-handed, while going to his right! Unfortunately, Shea has passed the age limit for players, as the Bulldogs lost, 15-5.BULLDOGS | 15 PUBLIC NOTICEThe DeSoto County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board will meet on April 25, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners Board Room, 201 East Oak Street, Suite 103, Arcadia, FL 34266. To obtain additional information concerning the meeting contact: Marcia Staszko at 863-534-7130 ext. 128 or Email mstaszko@cfrpc.orgIf special accommodations are required in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals should contact Marcia Staszko, Program Manager at the Central Florida Regional Planning Council 863534-7130 ext. 128 at least forty-eight hours prior to the meeting. adno=720379

PAGE 15

Arcadian | Page 16 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 Republicans from Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee and DeSoto counties gathered last Friday for a Florida Feast at BlackbeardÂs Ranch. The meal featured FloridaÂs agricultural bounties and over 400 guests heard from Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, as he shared his Florida First agenda and vision for FloridaÂs future. Putnam is a candidate for Florida governor in 2018. BlackbeardÂs Ranch is a 4,467-acre working cow-calf operation located on the Myakka Prairie in Manatee County. In September 2014, a company managed by St. Petersburg businessman Michael Galinski bought the property for $13 million. Galinski is the chief executive of America II Electronics, a global distributor of semiconductor components. A strong believer in conservation, the Blackbeard Ranch LLC is committed to restoring and protecting the native habitats for wildlife, as well as to provide for clean water downstream. While running a cow-calf operation is its primary focus, the company has diversiÂ“ed into other agricultural endeavors, to demonstrate and educate how sustainable agriculture and conservation come together. Guests were treated not only to ArcadiaÂs own Fussell Meats, but also the music of another local, Andy Pursell and his band. The event was chaired by Jane and Lefty Durando and Jim Strickland. Other contributors included Michael Galinski, Everglades Tractor and Dakin Dairy Farm.DeSoto Republicans at BlackbeardÂs Ranch, Putnam shares his visionBy ERNIE HEWETTARCADIAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Delanie Bartell, Sarasota County Cattlemen Sweetheart, Dr, Julio Gonzalez, District 17 U.S. representative candidate, and Casey Wingate, Manatee County Cattlemen Sweetheart ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY ERNIE HEWETTAdam Putnam at the April 6 visit to BlackbeardÂs Ranch. The Andy Pursell Band Most of us wait for the last tick of the second hand to Â“le our tax returns. But that can lead to mistakes that in todayÂs world can get costly. Here are a few tips for keeping out of troubled waters: Watch out for scammers: Tax season has been known to attract a host of shady characters, ranging from crooked tax-preparers to identity thieves. Fortunately, there are many strategies you can employ to protect yourself. They include signing up for free 24/7 credit monitoring to ensure your personal information isnÂt misused and making it a policy not to give Â“nancial information to anyone who contacts you, rather than the other way around. The most common scams include: Phishing: Fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information. The IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers via email about a bill or tax refund. Phone scams: Criminals impersonating IRS agents. Identity theft: Filing fraudulent tax returns using someone elseÂs Social Security number. Return preparer fraud: Includes refund fraud, identity theft and other scams. Fake charities: Groups masquerading as charitable organizations solicit donations from unsuspecting contributors. InÂ”ated refund claims: Signs include preparers asking clients to sign a blank return or those who promise a big refund before looking at taxpayer records. Excessive claims for business credits: Most taxpayers arenÂt eligible for this credit, as the law usually limits it to off-highway business use, including farming. Falsely padding deductions: Avoid the temptation. Falsifying income to claim credits: Con artists may convince you to invent income to erroneously qualify for tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. Get your paperwork in order : Organization is vital to a well-prepared tax return. So your Â“rst step in the preparation process should be to gather all the paperwork and information you needÂ„for the correct year. The most important of these documents are your Social Security card, income statements (e.g., W-2/1099 form), prior yearÂs tax return (for comparison), health-coverage statement and bank-account information. ItÂs especially important for independent contractors to make sure they receive all 1099s from their clients, as they can be sure the IRS will. Keep in mind that businesses are not required to send a 1099 if the contractor earned less than $600 during the year, but that income should still be reported on the contractorÂs tax return. Seek free advice : Having someone to bounce questions off of or an extra pair of eyes to check your work can help you avoid crucial mistakes. It can also work wonders for your stress levels. Just make sure to properly vet anyone you decide to work with. The IRSÂs Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is one particularly reliable source for tax help, and there are locations throughout the U.S. File for free : If you make less than $66,000 annually, and your tax situation is simple, thereÂs no reason why you should be paying anything for tax Â“ling. The IRS has a directory of tax software that you can use to calculate and Â“le your taxes for free, though the exact qualiÂ“cations differ slightly from website to website. Credit Karma is also offering free Â“ling this year, regardless of income. If youÂre willing to do a little extra work, you can alternatively Â“le for your taxes for free using the IRSÂs free Â“le form, though it warns that it Âoffers only basic guidanceÂŽ and youÂll still need to Â“le your state taxes separately. Use reliable tax software: The right tax-prep program can make the process painless, doing pretty much everything for you based on your answers to some simple questions. Just make sure to compare options and read customer reviews before deciding which software to use. In particular, pay attention to each optionÂs security standards and data-breach history. Use your losses : If you itemize deductions, donÂt forget to include the following (all of which are deductible to varying degrees): Realized capital losses (e.g., stocks you sold for less than the price you paid) Gambling losses to the extent of your winnings (e.g., if you have $3,000 in winning bets and $4,000 in losing bets, you can only deduct a maximum of $3,000) Mortgage/home-equity loan interest Student-loan interest Interest paid on business loans and lines of credit during the year If all else fails, check irs.gov.April 17 is Tax Day, avoid common mistakesCOMPILED BY ARCADIAN STAFF DESOTO COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER OFFICE (863) 993-4866 www.desotopa.com -Â„Â„Â„CAREER OPPORTUNITIESÂ„Â„Â„Agricultural Appraiser I Must possess High School Diploma or equivalent, Agricultural Degree preferred Self-Motivated with the ability to learn Proficient with MS Word, MS Excel, & Outlook High level attention to detail Requires ability to conduct fieldwork Clean driving record Residential Field Appraiser Must possess High School Diploma or equivalent Self-Motivated with the ability to learn High level attention to detail Ability to learn Requires ability to conduct fieldwork Clean driving record Ability to compose directional traverse coding SALARIES NEGOTIABLE, BASED UPON EXPERIENCE For more information, including job description and employment application, visit: www.desotopa.com adno=720400

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 17 | Arcadian Arcadia Garden ClubÂs meeting was called to order at noon on April 2 by president Evelyn Sasser, with 21 members and four guests attending. Carolyn Adair was introduced as a new member and guests included Margaret Hill, Judith Doctor, Marcia Alcook and speaker Dennis Gretton. Gretton, a licensed nursey owner from Lithia, Florida, provided a comprehensive presentation on growing herbs in central Florida, starting with Âdo not plant more than you can use.ÂŽ Herbs need to be pruned. ÂIf you do not prune, they will die,ÂŽ Gretton reported. By pruning regularly, you are harvesting leaves and flowers, as well as allowing the plant to continue to grow in its growth cycle. Many herbs are very forgiving, however, rosemary, sage and lavender do not like a lot of water and need to be kept dry. Others facts include: Mexican tarragon can be cut as close as one inch from the ground and will regrow, parsley needs a lot of water in the summer, cilantro is a cool weather herb, use cutting celery, a leafy herb (often mistaken for parsley) to substitute for celery in cooking and salads, Florida onions must be pulled within four months, and chives can be planted with strawberries to deter birds and bad nematodes. Speaker Gretton also provided homemade, herb-based cookies for the group to sample. Everyone sampled the toasted coconut ginger macaroons and voted them the Best of the Show! Gretton is a self-taught baker who creates his own recipes from his herbs. Attendees received handouts that included recipes for lemon thyme cookies, lavender cookies, cinnamon basil cookies, as well as the basic cookie recipe that can be used to create oneÂs own herb-based treat. Note: For your reference the basic recipe will be posted on the Arcadia Garden Club Facebook page. Ellen Myers, past president, announced the club will hold a Spring Plant Sale on May 18-19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., on the grounds of the clubhouse, 1005 W. Magnolia St. The sale will offer a large variety of locally grown plants that can thrive in DeSoto County. The sale is a fundraiser to help support a local scout troop. Lorraine Brauckhoff provided the devotional, ÂFinding God is like an Easter egg huntÂ„like the hidden Easter egg, God is waiting to be found.ÂŽ A lunch buffet that included salads, vegetables, pasta, entrees and a lot of desserts was provided by members. Sasser encouraged attendees to listen to WFLN (local AM radio station 1480) on Saturday at 7 a.m. for the ÂBetter Lawns and GardeningÂŽ talk program that provides timely gardening information and answers to questions from listeners. The public is welcome to attend as a guest of the Arcadia Garden Club. For more information about AGC and its activities, go to: https://www.facebook.com/ ArcadiaFloridaGardenClub and click the ÂLikeÂŽ button. For an electronic copy of the AGC newsletter, to receive a meeting reminder or if you are interested in being a presenter, send an email to: gardenclubarcadia@gmail.com. The groupÂs next meeting is May 7.Herbs: Only plant what you can useBy JAMIE PIPHERARCADIA GARDEN CLUB ARCADIAN PHOTOS PROVIDEDMeeting hostess Sandy Damron and nursery owner Dennis Gretton discuss herbs at the April Arcadia Garden Club gathering. Herbs need careful pruning. A yummy treat for Arcadia Garden Club guests and members. a program he established in 2011, Operation Outdoor Freedom. Adam also commented on the eveningÂs auction items, which included two riÂ”es provided by Gator Guns, Âyou will not see that happen at a Democratic Party event.ÂŽ Putnam is a candidate for Florida governor in 2018. Conservatives agree on one thing: Republicans must maintain control of the Florida governorÂs ofÂ“ce in November.DINNERFROM PAGE 10 Dr. Julio Gonzalez, Dr. Gina Arabitg and Adam Putnam ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY ERNIE HEWETTKathleen King and Adam Putnam In honor of Melanoma May we are offering:FREE Skin Screenings*THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAYSo get yours. Call us today.941-955-0360RiverchaseDermatology.com Free screenings are for new patients and by appointment only. adno=50534228

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Arcadian | Page 18 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 The idea of therapy and counseling in the black community is as farfetched as roses being red and violets being blue. There werenÂt many roses nor violets where I grew up. So the only outlet that I had growing up was my pink locket journal. It was in that journal that I began expressing my feelings and thoughts of being ugly, unwanted and inadequate. That journal saved my life. But even at the young age of 13, I wasnÂt aware that I was writing poetry. Not until my eighth-grade guidance counselor at DeSoto Middle School told me that I didnÂt have to return to the Â“nal days of school. Those days were reserved for celebrations for students that were being promoted to the next grade. My Â“nal assignment in Mrs. SchudelÂs eighth-grade English class was a presentation on the Holocaust. While I canÂt remember the original poem I did, I do remember receiving a phone call that evening after coming from school notifying me that my grade in Ms. SchudelÂs class had been changed. Because of that, I was being promoted to the ninth grade! From that point on I began to see how my words and feelings could change my circumstances. But I still wasnÂt aware of my full potential as a writer and, to be honest, no one ever told me that a small-town little black girl from Arcadia could become a writer. The idea never entered my mind as an option. My family later relocated to Pompano Beach where I attended Blanche Ely High School. I remember an announcement on the PA system for the NAACP ACT-SO competition that listed poetry as a category. I entered a poem that won the local and regional category for two years in a row. That gave me the opportunity to travel to the national competitions in New Orleans and Baltimore the following year. It was at these competitions that I was exposed to the arts in ballet, storytelling, music composition, monologues, speech, painting and sculpting. It was an oasis of young, talented black youth. Each year I would leave thinking and dreaming about the beauty of the arts. In 2011, I performed my Â“rst spoken-word poem at the legendary Black on Black Rhymes in Tampa, Florida, and itÂs been nonstop since then. I founded my very own cultural arts programming company, The Round Table Project, and have creatively cultivated the arts in communities with little to no artistic exposure. In 2016, a seed was planted by a former classmate to bring poetry to the people of Arcadia. Then came the initial investment of $1,000 from my late uncle, Charlie Burrough, which gave birth to the movement known as ÂSmall Towns Need Poetry Too.ÂŽ Which brings us to now. With growing knowledge of the movement, artists from across the country have reached out and are being sought to bring the art of spoken-word poetry to small towns and we are here to make sure every small town gets what they needÂ„ THE ARTS! The reception I received from the mayor and councilmen at my Â“rst city council meeting in Arcadia was nothing short of amazing! I felt honored to have their ear, if only for a moment, to speak on behalf of the arts and how impactful it can be if invested in. I thought it was cool to have the townÂs (police) marshal say: ÂYou can tell youÂre an author by the way you speak.ÂŽ Needless to say, I was welcomed home. Sarahca Peterson is president of The Round Table Project LLC.The write stuff, Arcadian poet says art brings dollars By SARAHCA PETERSONTHE ROUND TABLE PROJECT PETERSON The L&E Club gathered at the lovely home of Ann Ryals on April 3 for the annual business meeting. Hostesses for the meeting were Ann Ryals, Jenna Ryals, Mindy Ryals and Geraldine Barnwell. Upon arrival the members enjoyed the choice of delicious homemade peanut butter or strawberry pie. The business meeting was held and new officers were electedÂ„president: Sue Ellen Smith, vice president: Linda Hollingsworth, secretary: Mindy Ryals and treasurer: Marlou Zolkos. In celebration of National Poetry Month, Margaret Hays presented a talk on the Love Story of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Their courtship began after Elizabeth praised Robert Browning in her poem ÂLady GeraldineÂs Courtship.ÂŽ Robert wrote Elizabeth to tell her he was honored that she mentioned him in the poem. They wrote letters for 20 months. They exchanged 574 letters between them. Then Robert asked to meet Elizabeth. She refused because she was bed-ridden due to an injury she suffered as a child. She refused to see him for five months. On May 20, 1845, Robert came to call and she saw him. They kept their courtship secret from her father for two years until Robert told her they had to marry and elope to Italy. Her health would be better in Italy. On Sept. 11, 1846, Robert, age 34, and Elizabeth, age 40, married in Marylebone Parish Church and one week later sailed to Italy where they settled in Florence. Her father disinherited her and never spoke to her again. During their courtship Elizabeth wrote 39 poems and called them ÂSonnets from the Portuguese.ÂŽ She gave the poems to Robert after their wedding. Robert talked her into publishing them, which made her even more famous in Europe. Robert and Elizabeth had one son, Robert Barrett Browning. Elizabeth died in Florence in 1861 at the age of 55. She is buried in the English cemetery in Florence. Robert Browning died in Vince, Italy, while visiting his son, at the age of 77. Robert was not able to be buried with Elizabeth because the English cemetery in Florence was full. His body was taken by train back to London and he is buried in the PoetÂs Corner at Westminster Abbey. Attending the April 3 meeting were Nancy Ambler, Betty Brown, Margaret Hays, Susan Head, Shelia Knocke, Susan Lanier, Ann Ryals, Jenna Ryals, Mindy Ryals, Mary Ann Treadwell, Nancy Jo Vaughn, Angela Waters and Edith Wildt. Next monthÂs meeting will be a celebration of the Kentucky Derby and will be held at The Field Club in Sarasota on Tuesday, May 1.The L&E Club celebrates National Poetry MonthBy MINDY RYALSL&E CLUB CORRESPONDENT ARCADIAN PHOTO PROVIDEDMargaret Hayes was this monthÂs presenter. The Arcadian runs occasional spotlights of businesses/business owners whose stories need telling. This weekÂs proÂ“le is Air & Electrical Services of Arcadia. Supervisor Andrew Jacob talked about the Â“rm. Question: Talk about your business. Jacob: ÂOur company began operations right at the beginning of the great recession (January 2007) from a home ofÂ“ce based out of Sebring. During the next few years, we grew while our competition was shrinking. Our strength is the ability to work on all jobs or all sizes. In electric, we can work on small-home issues to large commercial services. ÂOur HVAC offerings vary from basic maintenance and repair, to installation of large commercial equipment. We are very well versed in new construction, remodeling, and repair. Our primary air conditioner of choice is Comfortmaker. We are recognized as an Comfortmaker Elite Dealer and choose this brand after many warranty issues with other brands. We are a Generac Generator dealer and can supply you with nearly any electrical brand out there.ÂŽ Question : Has you business changed in recent years? Jacob : ÂElectrical and HVAC products are evolving to be included in the internet of things. Nearly every new product emerging from suppliers is able to be controlled by your smartphone. During the recession, we needed to add to our scope of work to compensate the peaks and valleys of contracting work. The additional products we offer include camera systems, network cabling, Â“re-alarm installations, home-generator installations, and more. Ductless or MiniSplit systems are also becoming more common. Where they have been used all over the world for decades, we have seen them becoming increasingly used here for cooling or heating one room at a time over the last 10 years.ÂŽ Question : How are you different? Jacob : ÂWe have an old-fashioned business feel. Our goal is to earn customers for life while training and retaining employees who are looking for a career. We are here to make friends and provide the highest level of service. We will not sell you products that you do not need. We will not change out parts that do not need to be. We do things the right way. We treat others how we want to be treated.ÂŽ Question : Best advice to a customer/homeowner. Jacob: ÂThe life expectancy of an air-conditioner varies greatly due to amount of use, climate, regular service, and other incidentals. There is not an expiration date built into your air-conditioner. Some air-conditioners last 30 years while some last 10 years, just as some individuals keep their thermostat set at 74 degrees causing the system to run, other individuals keep their thermostat set at 78 degrees. If your air-conditioner is working and not resulting in numerous repairs or high-power usage, donÂt rely on looks alone to determine your equipment needs to be replaced.ÂŽ Jacob/sidebar: ÂWe would like to thank the Arcadia Police Department for recovering stolen property. Within an hour of showing the ofÂ“cers our camera footage, our property was back on site. They did an outstanding job!ÂŽBusiness spotlight: Air & Electrical ServicesCOMPILED BY ARCADIAN STAFF ARCADIAN PHOTO PROVIDEDPictured are Andy Jacob (supervisor), Matt Grin (owner) and Scott Kaplan (supervisor). PETSAREGOODFORYOURMENTALANDPHYSICALWELLBEING.Find that special companion in the Classifieds today!

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 19 | Arcadian Predicting 2018Âs storm seasonThe 2017 Atlantic hurricane season certainly turned out to be dramatic (17 named storms, 10 hurricanes, six of which were major). Are we looking at the same kind of scenario for 2018? Early predictions are starting to pour in. Colorado State University climatologist Phil Klotzbach is anticipating the 2018 campaign will bring Âslightly above-average activity.ÂŽ Keep in mind, KlotzbachÂs initial stab for 2017 predicted Âslightly below-averageÂŽ activity. Climate phase plays a major role in how hurricane seasons play out. Klotzbach notes in his latest outlook: ÂThe current weak La Nia event appears likely to transition to neutral ENSO (El Nio/Southern Oscillation) over the next several months. But at this point, we do not anticipate a signiÂ“cant El Nio event this summer/fall.ÂŽ El NioÂs influence is historically linked to weaker hurricane seasons in the Atlantic, where La Nia and neutral years have been associated with increased tropical activity. A year ago at this time, it appeared El Nio was eventually going to be a factor during the storm season. It never showed up. 2018 Extended Atlantic Basin Seasonal Hurricane ForecastNamed storms: 14 Hurricanes: 7 Major hurricanes (Categories 3 to 5): 3 These numbers trend closely with AccuWeatherÂs recently released 2018 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. Farmers demand help for Irma damagesPressure is growing from Florida as the U.S. Department of Agriculture determines how to move forward with a disaster-relief package from early February. In a letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, Florida senators and ag producers noted that a range of industries remain affected by 2017 hurricanes. Citrus growers, for example, suffered at least $761 million in losses from Irma, which caused a total of $2.5 billion in damages to the stateÂs ag industry. Irma-induced storms hit Southwest Florida groves particularly hard, reaching 70-90 percent of orange crops. Grapefruit production will be about 40 percent off this season, as well, experts predict. Citrus output could set record lowsIf the latest USDA Citrus forecast is any indication, the Florida citrus industry continues to be adversely affected by long-term challengesÂ„citrus greeningÂ„and recent disasters. With four months of citrus forecasts in the books, itÂs easy to see the hardships that Florida citrus growers are facing. For a frame of reference, Florida citrus growers harvested 240 million boxes of oranges and 40.9 million boxes of grapefruit in the 2003 to 2004 season. In comparison, the 2015 to 2016 citrus season saw 81.6 million boxes of citrus harvested. In the 2016 to 2017 season, Florida citrus growers produced 68.7 million boxes. The yearly Florida citrus harvest have fallen steadily since the arrival of citrus greening in 2005, and lower and lower forecasts have followed since. Most growers suffered extensive fruit loss, Â”ooding and tree loss. Estimates put losses anywhere from 30 percent to 70 percent. The extreme losses suffered by the Florida citrus industry from Hurricane Irma prepared everyone for truly low numbers when the first USDA forecast came out in October. However, many were surprised when the prediction was set at 54 million boxes. The USDA maintained that data from prior to the storm did go into the calculations of the initial forecast. Then, in November the USDA citrus forecast for Florida dropped to 50 million boxes of citrus. While no one wanted a lower forecast, the numbers seemed more in line with the losses caused by the hurricane. The December USDA citrus forecast for Florida was lower still, with 46 million boxes of oranges predicted, and 4.65 million boxes of grapefruit. The latest USDA forecast, released Jan. 12, held steady, one of the few positives that have been seen in this yearÂs citrus industry thus far. However, oranges are forecast down 33 percent, and grapefruit down 40 percent, over last yearÂs totals. All told, the season is shaping up to be the lowest in 75 years. 4-H/Tractor SupplyÂs Paper Clover backTractor Supply Co. hosts its ninth year of Paper Clover, a fundraiser providing millions in scholarships for 4-H youth in partnership with National 4-H council. From April 11 to April 22, Florida Tractor Supply customers can purchase a paper cloverÂ„the emblem of 4-HÂ„for a donation during checkout or by making a purchase online at TractorSupply.com. The funds raised will be awarded to Florida 4-H youth as scholarships to attend camps and leadership conferences. Since its start in 2010, the partnership generated more than $13 million, $1.8 million last year. UFÂs Honey Bee Lab ready in MayFor some years now weÂve been hearing about the plight of the bees and the repercussions that could have on the agricultural community. Citrus, almonds, blueberries, melons, cucumbers and more all depend especially on honey bees for pollination. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is tackling the problems with its new Honey Bee Lab, in conjunction with the Florida State Beekeepers Association. Dr. Jamie Ellis, associate professor of Entymology, will be living on-site and heading the project. The idea came about when Ellis was talking with some other beekeepers about the idea of having a state-of-theart facility devoted to bringing people together to further research and work in the area. It didnÂt take long to get the Florida State Beekeepers Association on board, and in just a few short years of intense fundraising and lobbying, they had $2 million of the $3.5 million needed for the project. The construction is expected to be completed in May with researchers moving arriving in June. It will not, however, be commercially available. Besides, producing honey is not the main focus of the operationÂ„research and education are. Honey Bee Lab is expected to be a great resource to Central Florida and the apiary industry.Ag briefs, Irma still an issue, whatÂs next for 2018?COMPILED BY ARCADIAN STAFF AGRICULTUREAreaUpdates,alerts,reportsandotherlocalagriculturalinformation.even though he had a good bullpen session before the game. Assistant coach Monte McLeod said, ÂHe was popping the ball and hitting his spots in the bullpen, but was off to begin the game.ÂŽ After allowing two singles to begin the game, Steele hit a man to load the bases with one out. A pair of walks forced in two runs with a Â“elderÂs choice and another free pass bringing in two more. A double drove in two Wildcats and a sacriÂ“ce Â”y ended the scoring. The Bulldogs didnÂt bark much to start the game, as they had four strikeouts in the Â“rst six outs. They kicked up their heels in the third, as Tyler MansÂ“eld got things rolling when he was safe on one of four errors by the Wildcats. After a Â”y out and Â“elderÂs choice, it looked the inning would end there. Mason Ayers got the Â“rst DeSoto hit and Logan Adams walked to load the bases with two outs. Eli Wilhelm hit a long Â”y ball to right that was misplayed and with two outs the runners were on the move and all three scored to get the Bulldogs on the board. The boys in white werenÂt done, as Steele singled in Wilhelm and Steele scored on Bueford PattonÂs double. After a walk to Logan McCall, MansÂ“eld kept things alive with a base hit to score Patton. A walk to Clinton Cross loaded the bases again, but a ground ball ended the inning. The Bulldogs had cut the lead to 9-6. MansÂ“eldÂs hit would be the last one until 14 batters later when Wilhelm had a one-out triple in the seventh inning. Steele again chased Wilhelm home on a sacriÂ“ce Â”y to end the scoring for the night. It was a strange game: the Bulldogs only collected Â“ve hits, with four of those coming in the third inning when they scored six runs. They struck out nine times with at least one in every inning except when they scored in the third inning. Coach Mike Klossner told the team after the game about the importance of putting the ball in play. ÂYou see in the third inning we had no strikeouts and we put the ball in play and they had two errors,ÂŽ he said. ÂWe scored six times. ÂIn every other inning we had at least one strikeout and we only scored once for the rest of the game. Our approach at the plate was good for an inning and then we lost it after that.ÂŽ The Bulldogs had three starters missing from the game for various reasons and had two players in new positions. They still made fewer errors (three) than the Wildcats, but just didnÂt put the ball in play enough to get any closer.LOSSFROM PAGE 15 adno=720397 2 0 1 8 0 4 1 2 a s 1 9 p d f 1 1 1 A p r 1 8 1 9 : 0 0 : 4 6

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Arcadian | Page 20 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 1210 HOMES FOR RENT Casa San Juan Bosco I & II Rental Homes USDA housing community, taking apps for low income/rental assisted households with Farm Laborers, retired Farm Laborers, or disabled Farm Laborers only. For more info call 863-884-2123 TTY# 800-955-8771 This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider & Employer. 1500 LOTS & ACREAGE ARCADIA 55 acre parce l w/lake for rent or sale. Water, electric and septic on site. Need your OWN 5th wheel or mobile home. $725/mo. or $299k Call 239-693-7270. 2005 SERVICES AGRICULTURAL APPRAISER Must possess High School Diploma or equivalent, Agricultural Degree preferred, Self-Motivated with the ability to learn, Proficient with MS Word, MS Excel, and Outlook, High level attention to detail, Requires ability to conduct fieldwork, Clean driving record SALARY NEGOTIABLE, BASED UPON EXPERIENCE For more information, including job description and employment application, visit: www.desotopa.com RE S IDENTIAL FIELD APPRAISER Must possess High School Diploma or equivalent, Self-Motivated with the ability to learn, High level attention to detail, Ability to learn, Requires ability to conduct fieldwork, Clean driving record, Ability to compose directional traverse coding SALARY NEGOTIABLE, BASED UPON EXPERIENCE For more information, including job description and employment applications, visit: www.desotopa.com F i n d y o u r B e s t F r i e n d i n t h e C l a s s i f i e d s 2010 PROFESSIONAL ROOFERS ExpÂd but will train Metal Roof Installers. Must have Transportation and be reliable. Call 941-766-1888 2030 MEDICAL HHA/CNA Earn $10-$15/hr Work remotely. Flexible hours Call today!! 239-652-0260 2050 SKILLED TRADES SIGN ON BONUS LABORERS/TRUCK DRIVERS HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC BACKHOE, DOZER, LOADER OPERATORS WHEEL TRACTOR OPERATOR LABOR/ROLLER OPERATOR PUNCH OUT CREW/WILL TRAIN SKILLED CONCRETE FINISHERS TAILMAN/TOPMAN Apply: 3801 N Orange Ave SRQ, FL 34234 jobsatderrTWO@gmail.com EOE CGC-1514997 2100 GENERAL 12 temp to b acco wor k ers needed by Morgan Farms, Inc., Randleman, NC, 04/20/18 to 11/20/18. Duties associated with tobacco production to include greenhse prep, preparing rows for planting, planting, cultivating, harvest by hand, fertilizing, spraying, loading/unloading tobacco bales of up to 800lbs, delivery of product to market, tractor driving, & genÂl farm work. Involves stooping, lifting, working outs ide in inclement weather & outdoor temps below 30 to excess of 100 deg. Random drug testing employer Â… pd, post hire. Must have 1 mos verifiable exp. W rkers will receive $11.46/hr. Free housing will be provided to workers who live outside the area of intended employment. Transp & subsistence costs to the place of employment will be reimbursed to anyone who lives outside area of intended employment upon comple tion of 50% of the work contract or earlier, if appropriate. Trans to & from worksite will be provided by the employer for worker who lives in housing provided by the employer. Guaranteed Âs of the hours specified in the work contract. Tools, supplies, & necessary equipment will be provided at no cost to the worker. To apply, contact CareerSource Heartland: 2160 NE Roan Ave A rcadia, FL 34266; 863-993-1008 x2 31;JO#10826516. 2 temp wor k ers nee d e d b y CromwellÂs Produce, LLC, VA Beach, VA 04/20/18 to 11/27/18 to work in production & harvest of veg/strawberries/fruit/cut flowers. Saturday work & 3 mos exp required. Receive $11.46/hr. May be required to take random, post-accident, and/or upon suspicion drug test post-hire at no cost to worker. Testing pos/failure to comply may result in immediate termination. Free housing will be provided to workers who live outside the area of intended employment. Trans & subsistence costs to the place of employment will be reimbursed to anyone who lives outside area of intended employment upon completion of 50% of the work contract, or earlier if appropriate. Trans to & from worksite will be provided by the employer for worker who lives in housing provided by the employer. Guaranteed Âs of th e hrs specified in the work contract. Tools, supplies, & necessary equipment will be provided at no cost to the worker. To apply, contact CareerSource Heartland: 2160 NE Roan Ave A rcadia, FL 34266; 863-993-1008 x231; V A1294391. 2100 GENERAL Learn to drive a truck! Get your Commercial DriverÂs License today at South Florida State College. Scholarships are available to eligible participants. 863-784-7033 3116 NOTICE OF ACTION IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT O F THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN A ND FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 142018CA000108 DIVISION: CIVIL ISAIAS SALAMON AYALA, Petitioner, v. CAVALIER HOME BUILDERS, LLC, COASTAL HOMES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, JANE DOE and JOHN DOE, Respondents. NOTICE OF ACTION TO:Defendants CAVALIER HOME BUILDERS, LLC, COASTAL HOMES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, JANE DOE and JOHN DOE their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, creditors, suc cessors in interest, assignees, lienors, trustees, and all other parties claiming by, through, under, or against them; all un known natural persons if alive, and if dead or not known to be dead or alive, thei r several an d respective unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, and creditors, or other parties claiming by, through, or under those unknown natural persons; the several and respective unknown assigns, successors in interest, trustees, or any other person claiming by, through, under, or against any corporation or other legal entity named or described as a defendant; and all claimants, persons or parties natural or corporate, or whose exact legal status is unknown, claiming under any of the above named or described defendants, or parties claiming to have any right, title, or interest in the property hereafter described, except for parties claiming by, through or under this Plaintiff, and ALL OTHERS W HOM IT MAY CONCERN: Y OU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to seek a declaratory judgement as to a certain mob il e home is pending, said mobile home being located at 1226 SE 9th Avenue, Arcadia, Florida 34266 and described as: A Manufacturer: Cavalier B. Model: Aspen C. Date of Manufacture: 2005 D. Serial Numbers(s): BL05GA0136738A and BL05GA0136738B E. Each half is 60Â feet long and 14Â wide has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, t o it on PAUL BENNETT SEUSY, P.A ., the plaintiff's attorney, whose address is 203 West Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida, 34266, on or before April 29, 2018, and file the original with the Clerk of Court for DeSoto County, 115 OS 3116 NOTICE OF ACTION East O ak S treet, Arcadia, F lorida, 34266, either before service on the plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition. Dated this the 13th day of March, 2018. NADIA DAUGHTREY, Clerk of the Court By: Bridgette Rios as Deputy Clerk Published 4/05/18 & 4/12/18 325434 3565339 IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT O F THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN A ND FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 16-CA-528 DIVISION: CIVIL LEONARD LEMPENAU and ERIC MANRIQUEZ, Plaintiffs, v. PATRICIA BELTRAN, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, CAVALIER INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware Corporation, JANE DOE and JOHN DOE, Defendants. AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION TO:Defendants PATRICIA BELTRAN, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, CAVALIER INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware Corporation, JANE DOE and JOHN DOE, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, creditors, successors in interest, assignees, lienors, trustees, and all other parties claiming by, through, under, or against them; all unknown natu ral persons if aliv e, and if dea d or not known to be dead or alive, their several and respective unknown spouses, heirs, dev isees, grantees, and creditors, or other parties claiming by, through, or under those unknown natural persons; the several and respective unknown assigns, successors in interest, t rustees, or any other person claiming by, through, under, or against any corporation or other legal entity named or desc ribe d as a defendant; and all claimants, persons or parties, natural or corporate, or whose exact legal status is unknown, claiming under any of the above named or described defendants, or parties claiming to have any right, title, or interest in the property hereafter described, except for parties claiming by, through or under this Plaintiff, and ALL OTHERS W HOM IT MAY CONCERN: Y OU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to quiet title is pending on the following real property in DeSoto County, Florida: LOT 32, TROPICAL PINES SUBDIVISION, an unrecorded plat of DeSoto County, Florida, more particularly described as: COMMENCE at the Northeast corner of the East of the SW of the NE of Section 6, Township 38 South, Range 25 East; Thence South 0847Â02ÂŽ W est along the East boundary of said tract, 657.18 feet to the Poi nt of Beginning; Thence continue same course, 100.0 feet; thence North 8952Â58ÂŽ West, 22032f 3116 NOTICE OF ACTION 220 32 f eet; Thence North 0 847Â02ÂŽ East, 100.0 feet; thence South 8952Â58ÂŽ East 220.32 feet to the Point of Beginning. Less twenty-five foot (25Â) road right-of-way on the W est Side, All lying and being in DeSoto County, Florida. Subject to reservations, restrictions and easements of record, if any, in the Public Records of DeSoto County Florida, but thi s provision shall not operate to reimpose the same. DeSoto County Property Appraiser Parcel ID Number: 06-38-25-0376-0000-0320 has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, t o it on PAUL BENNETT SEUSY, P .A., the plaintiff's attorney, w hose address is 203 West Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida, 34266, on or before May 1, 2018, and f ile the ori ginal with the Clerk o f Court for DeSoto County, 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida, 34266, either before s ervice on the plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition. Dated this the 27th day of March, 2018. NADIA DAUGHTREY, Clerk of the Court By: Bridgette Rios as Deputy Clerk Published 4/05/18 & 4/1 2/18 325434 3565367 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR DeSoto COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.:18--DR144 Division: William Vilardo, Petitioner, and Cynthia Vilardo, Respondent, NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: Cynthia Vilardo Springfield, MO YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Divorce has been filed against you and that you are re quired to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on W illiam Vilardo whose address is 2302 Genes Little Acres NW, A rcadia, FL 34266 on or befor e 04/26/2018, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 115 E Oak Sreet Arcadia, FL 34266 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. I f you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you f or the relief demanded in t he petition. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office noifidfd 3116 NOTICE OF ACTION tified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in t his lawsuit will be mailed o r e-mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk's office. W ARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules o f Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can resul t in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings. Dated: 03/26/2018 CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Nadia Daughtrey By: Bridgette Rios Deputy Clerk Publish: April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2018 395956 3566545 AdvertiseToday! 3120 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 2018-CP-15 IN RE: ESTATE OF J OAN ELIZABETH COUCH, DECEASED. Division: Probate NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of JOAN ELIZABETH COUCH, deceased, whose date of death was November 13, 2017, is pending in the Cicuit Court for D eSOto County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia Florida 34266. The names and addresses of the personal repre sentative and the personal repre sentativeÂs attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claimes or demands against decedentÂs estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claimes with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOT ICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER TH E DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the dece dent and other persons having claims or demands against dece dentÂs estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER B ARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, A NY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENTÂS DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication is A pril 5, 2018. A ttorney for Personal Representa tive: Guy Flowers Florida Bar No.: 685631 The Law Firm of Guy A. Flowers, P.A. 12653 SW County Road 769, Suite A LkSFlid34269

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The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.sunnewspapers.net Page 21 | Arcadian 3120 NOTICE TO CREDITORS L a k e S uzy, Fl or id a 34269 Telephone: (941) 235-0708 Fax: (941) 613-6619 Personal Representative: Shirley Wyatt 1340 San Cristobal Avenue, #201 Punta Gorda, Florida 33983 Publish: 04/05/18, 04/1 2/18 371842 3566339 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File Number: 2018-CP-000023-AXMA IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES E. HEIDEN, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of CHARLES E. HEIDEN, deceased, whose date of death was January 7, 2018; is pending in the Circuit Court for DesotoC ounty, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266 The names and address es of the personal representative and the personal representativeÂs attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS A FTER TH E DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the dece dent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AF TER THE DECEDENTÂS DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: April 5, 2018. H. Greg Lee A ttorney for Personal Representative EMail: HGLee@hgreglee.com Secondary EMail: service@hgreglee.com Florida Bar No. 351301 2014 Fourth Street Sarasota, FL 34237 Telephone: (941) 954-0067 MARCIA HEIDEN Personal Representative 56 Primrose Trail Morristown, New Jersey 07960 Publish: April 5, 12, 2018 108768 3564637 IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT O F THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH G. NOLAN, Deceased. CASE NO. 2018CP000007 PROBATE DIVISION JUDGE: KIMBERLY BONNER AMENDED NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of ELIZABETH G. NOLAN, Deceased, File No. 2018CP000007, is pending in the Circuit Court for DeSoto County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative's attorney are set forth below. A LL INTERESTED PERSONS A RE NOTIFIED THAT: All persons on whom this no tice is served who have objections that challenge the validity of the Will, the qualifications of t he Personal Representative, v enue, or jurisdiction of this court are required to file their objections with this Court W ITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF T HE FIRST PUBLICATION OF T HIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS A FTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against Decedent's f 3120 NOTICE TO CREDITORS estate on w h om a copy o f t hi s notice is served within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice must f ile their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAY S AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON T HEM. All other creditors of the Dece dent and persons having claims or demands against the Decedent's estate must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE D ATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICA TION OF THIS NOTICE. A LL CLAIMS, DEMANDS AND OBJECTIONS NOT SO FILED W ILL BE FOREVER BARRED The date of first publication of this notice is April 5, 2018. PAUL BENNETT SEUSY, P.A. Attorney for Petitioner 203 West Oak Street Arcadia, Florida 34266 863-491-7285 888-430-5940 Facsimile E-Mail: paul@paulseusy.com By: Paul Bennett Seusy, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0690252 Personal Representative Judy L. Moors 5104 NE Sandy Road Arcadia, FL 34266 Publish: April 5, 12, 2018 3325434 3565365 IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT F O R DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF SUZANNE LECKBAND Deceased. File No. 2018-CP-0028 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the Es tate of SUZANNE LECKBAND, deceased, File Number 2018-CP-0028, is pending in the Circuit Court for DeSoto County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, FL 34266. T he names and addresses of t he p ersonal representative and the personal representativeÂs attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN T HE LATER OF 3 MONTHS A FTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DAT E OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED W ILL BE FOREVER BARRED. The date of first publi cation o f this Notice is April 12, 2018. A ttorney for Personal Representative: Marc J. Soss, Esquire Florida Bar No. 0937045 P.O. Box 110127 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 Tel: (941) 928-0310 Personal Representative: MATTHEW LECKBAND 3655 S.W. Hoagland Drive Mountain Home, ID 83647 Publish: April 12, 19, 2018 402220 3569172 IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT F O R DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY A. GLASCO, DECEASED. FILE NO.: 2018-CP-000009 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of SHIRLEY A. GLASCO, deceased, whose date of death was November 30, 2017, File File 2018 CP 000009 is pending in the Circuit Court for DESOOC 3120 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OTO C ounty, Fl or id a, P ro b ate Division, the address of which is 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia, Florida 34266. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representativeÂs attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs est ate on whom a copy of this no tice has been served must file their claims with this Court W ITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS A FTER THE TIME OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF T HIS NOTICE ON THEM. A ll other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedentÂs estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF T HE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. A LL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITH STANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, A NY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) Y EARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENTÂS DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. T he date of first publication is A pril 12, 2018 A ttorney for Personal Represent ative: PAULA M. JOHNSON Florida Bar No. 0596566 POst Office Box 7564 North Port, Florida 34290 Telephone: (941) 209-9551 paulajohnson0507@gmail.com Personal Representative: CASSANDRA TROWER 1795 Mackinaw Street North Port, Florida 34286 Publish: 04/12/18, 04/19/18 402115 3566867 3122 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE IN THE C IR C UIT CO URT O F THE 12TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO: 2016CA000546AXMA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. SANDRA CENDEJAS A/K/A SANDRA N. CENDEJAS; US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN TENANT #1; UNKNOWN TENANT #2, Defendant(s). NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to an Order Granting P laintiffÂs Motion to Reschedule the Foreclosure Sale Date entered in Civil Case No. 2016CA000546AXMA of the Circuit Court of the 12TH Judicial Circuit in and for DESOTO County, Florida, wherein BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. is Plaintiff and Sandra N. Cendejas, et al, are Defendants. The Clerk, Nadia K. Daughtrey, shall sell to the high e st and best bidder for cash a t County's Public Auction DeSoto County Courthouse, 115 Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266 at 11:00 AM on the 24th day of May, 2018 in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes, the following described property located in DESOTO County, Florida, as set f orth in said Uniform Final Judgment of Mortgage Foreclosure, t o-wit: LOT 6 AND 7, BLOCK "T", MILLS ADDITION TO ARCADIA, AS PER MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR DESOTO COUNTY, FLORIDA. A ny person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if hhh 3122 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens, must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance: Please contact DeSoto County Jury Office, 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266. Telephone: (863) 993-4876. If you are hearing or voice impaired, please call 711. For all other inq uiries, please contact the 1 2th Circuit Court ADA Coordinator; Tiffany Zeleski at: 941-861-7811. Dated this 6th day of April, 2018. Nadia K. Daughtrey Desoto County Clerk of Court By: Bridgette Rios Deputy Clerk Publish: 04/12/18, 04/19/18 371198 3568546 3130 NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE : NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: Able W recker gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 04/30/2018, 08:30 am at 5135 NE Cubitis A venue Arcadia, FL 34266, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. Able W recker reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1FMZU63E2YZB06149 2000 FORD Publish: April 12, 2018 108133 3566963 3138 OTHER NOTICES **OFFICIAL** NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION I, Ken Detzner, Secretary of State of the State of Florida, do hereby give notice that a GENERAL ELECTION will be held in DESOTO County, State of Florida, on the SIXTH day of NOVEMBER, 2018, A .D., to fill or retain the following offices: United States Senator Representative in Congress: District 17 Florida Cabinet Governor Florida Cabinet Lieutenant Governor Flo rida Cabinet Attorney General Florida Cabinet Chief Financial Officer Florida Cabinet Commissioner of A griculture State Senator: District 26 State Representative: District 56 Circuit Judge, Twelfth Judicial Cir cuit: Groups 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20 and 21 County Judge: Group 1 School Board: Districts 1, 3 and 5 C ounty Commissioner: Districts 2 and 4 Peace River Soil and Water Conservation Dis trict: Groups 1, 3 an d 5 Publish: April 5 and 12, 2018 283740 3555566 6030 HOUSEHOLD GOODS 6 piece pinewood L-shaped dinette set $300 954-303-1735 6 Tiffany Style Lamps $70-$180 EACH 954-303-1735 6035 FURNITURE 2 DRAWER NIGHT STAND $30. 863-494-3652 DAVENP O RT CO U C H White, like new $100 651-304-7401 RE C LINER CO U C H Tan reclines on both ends $300 859-402-2607 FAINTIN G C HAIR Old Wicker, Chaise style, needs small repair amd paint, newer cusion $45. 863-444-8291 ANTI Q UE I C EB O X $200 863-494-2786 WALNUT ENTERTAINMENT CENTER/TV STAND $50obo. 863-494-3190 6035 FURNITURE ROUND DINING ROOM wood pedastal table w/4 chairs excellent condition $150 OBO 863-494-3190 BEAUTIFUL ALL WOOD ENTERTAINMENT CENTER 3 PIECES, GLASS DOORS $350. 863-494-3652 LEATHER CO U C H & RECLINER IN GOOD CONDITION. $250 863-494-3652 NICE LARGE OAK TABLE with tile & 4 chairs, Very good condition. $100. 863-993-1365 6070 ANTIQUES COLLECTIBLES HESS TRUCKS 1990, 1992, 1994-2005 MINT CONDITION. 863-993-3044 M a dd y Â s A nt i ques HUGE CLEARANCE TABLES Sat., April 14 10am 2pm 121 W. Oak St., Arcadia 6090 MUSICAL BEHRINGER POWERED SPEAKER AMP 125 WATT LIKE NEW $95 941-202-9172 6095 MEDICAL WHEEL CHAIR W/LEG RESTS EXC. SHAPE $90. 616-260-3651 HARMER MOBILITY/ SCOOTER LIFT W/C-ARM ATTACHMENT $500 863-993-3044 JAZZY ELECTRIC SCOOTER $500obo. 941-549-5704 ELECTRIC POWER CHAIR $500obo 941-549-5704 6100 HEALTH/BEAUTY THERAPEUTIC INVERSION Table heavy duty $115 863-448-6263 6131FIREARMS S AVA G E 308 M O DEL 990 Bushnell 3x9 weaver mount w/case $450 863-558-0367 6135 BICYCLES/ TRICYCLES 3 WHEELBIKE Good shape $100 firm 863-448-6236 6160 LAWN & GARDEN C U S HMAN TRU C K S TER Hydraulic dump bed, Kohler engine not running $795 863-558-3677 6161OUTDOOR LIVING 32 PIECE GEAR WRENCHES never used. $80.00 863-494-3011 P O R C H C HAIR w/removable cushions Better Homes & Garden $35 863-494-3936 FIN CO TANK Sprayer on wheels $230.00 863-494-3011 6190 TOOLS/ MACHINERY CRAFTSMAN TABLE SAW 3 HP, Very good condition $100 Mike 863-244-2652 6250 APPLIANCES MICROWAVE $ 15 2 BURNER HOT PLATE $30 419-494-5665 CO MPA C T FRID G E $ 15 440-856-6661 GE REFRIGERATOR 2011 side by side, black, 23.7 cu. ft. $175 obo. 863-873-1862 ELE C TRI C H OS PITAL BED In excellent condition $425. Serious inquiries leave message. 863-990-5635 6260 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE 1 2 H O LENE S TIN G B O X For chickens $100 SOLD 863-494-3011 7260 AUTOS WANTED WE BUY & PICK UP JUNK CARS 941-661-1928 T urnyou r trashinto cash! Advertise youryard sa l e! PUT CLASSIFIEDS TOWORK FORYOU!FINDAJOB! BUYAHOME! BUYACAR!

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Arcadian | Page 22 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 time and be prepared to stay late, if necessary. It is very important that you are able to follow directions and Â“nish tasks completely and accurately in the workforce. (Those skills are ones that your teachers encouraged you to do from prek-12th grade.) A word to the wise whether you are going to college or into the workforce: BEWARE of gimmicks aimed at young students and workers: the credit-card trap. Many credit-card companies will offer their cards to college students who have no job. What happens when the monthly bill comes due? It is very important that students not get bogged down in debt while trying to get started in life. There are many different aspects to life after high school. I encourage parents and their high school seniors to have open conversations about the time to come. I wish you well as you get closer to meeting one of your goals in life as you graduate from high school.Dr. Sharon T. Goodman DCHS Graduation CoachYes, we can prevent child abuseEditor: By now you may have noticed the blue pinwheels, ÂWear BlueÂŽ events or other signs that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. And if you follow the news, you already know FloridaÂs opioid crisis is driving a sharp spike in the number of abused, abandoned and neglected children coming into out-of-home careÂ„nearly 32,000 statewide as of February. ThatÂs a 13.7 percent increase over the last 2 years. And in our judicial circuitÂ„which includes DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota countiesÂ„1,097 children were in out-ofhome care as of February, removed from their own homes for their safety. Our child welfare system is bursting at the seams. We read about toddlers found in a back seat, their parents dead of overdoses in the front, and we feel helpless before such tragedies. According to research commissioned by Prevent Child Abuse America, 97 percent of adults say they would take action on behalf of children, but just donÂt know how. I say: One child at a time, we can do this. First, itÂs important to understand the factors that drive families into the child welfare system: mental illness, addiction, domestic violence, poverty, trauma. Second, itÂs important to understand these drivers as intergenerational, learned and handed down in families, and that to prevent child abuse, we have to break the cycle. Third, itÂs important to understand that most abused and neglected children want to be with their parents no matter how badly theyÂve been treatedÂ„ and that to help children, we must help their families. There are many ways to do this in our own community, and Prevent Child Abuse America found that most adults are already doing prevention work by mentoring children or parents (70 percent), donating time or money to groups that serve children (80 percent), or advocating for policies that improve childrenÂs well-being (77 percent). But now we must dig deeper. The opioid epidemic is not just any scourge. For our neighbors already struggling with poverty and trauma, it is a deadly escape that can land their kids in foster care or leave their aging parents with toddlers to raise. And our overloaded foster care system is no place for traumatized children. According to the Ackerman Institute for the Family, there are 401,000 American children in foster care. Their average length of stay is 25.3 monthsÂ„and the institute says these children have rates of PTSD similar to veterans of war. So although you are probably involved in prevention already, please consider what else you might do. Like respite care. Maybe you canÂt be a foster or adoptive parent, but perhaps you can support someone who is. Or can you volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and be the voice for a child? Without an advocate, the odds are stacked against children in foster care. But a child with a GAL volunteer spends 20 percent less time in foster care than a child without one. And studies show children with volunteer advocates receive more critical services than those without, and are four times more likely to Â“nd a permanent home. We are so deeply grateful for the 509 certiÂ“ed GAL volunteers in the 12th Judicial CircuitÂ„who represent 82 percent of the children in foster careÂ„and to our many donors and community partners. Thank you for giving children a shot at a better life. Join us by calling 941-744-9473 or visiting https://12gal.com.Toni LaTortue Director, Guardian ad Litem Program, 12th Judicial CircuitLETTERSFROM PAGE 4 a credit card were missing from her home, and her roommate, Jami Lee Ceron Â„ who had recently moved out Â„ was the last person who had them. The woman had given them to Ceron to purchase a money order for her. The woman said CeronÂs cousin later returned the license and card. Although Ceron claimed she gave the money order to the woman, the woman denied it, and texts sent by Ceron to the woman assured she would pay her back, contradicting her claim she had not taken the money. The victim reported three different checks had been deposited in her account, totaling more than $800. One had been written on a starter check from an account the victimÂs niece had opened while she lived with her aunt; when she moved out, the niece said, she left some of the extra starter checks there, before Ceron moved in. The other two were written on checks from a closed bank account reportedly under the name of CeronÂs boyfriend who is in jail in West Virginia. Ceron purchased a car from a used car lot in Arcadia. The dealer later conÂ“rmed Ceron had put $400 or $500 cash down on the car. When a detective followed up with Ceron later, she said the victim had told her to deposit the three checks in question into her (the victimÂs) account. (The victim, however, said she had no knowledge about those checks or how they got into her account.) Ceron initially denied knowing the West Virginia man whose two checks were deposited in the victimÂs account, even though that man was identiÂ“ed by CeronÂs cousin as her boyfriend. Ceron eventually admitted knowing him when the detective said police in West Virginia conÂ“rmed Ceron and the boyfriend had been involved together with a possible crime there. DCSO conÂ“rmed through video from the bank that Ceron had, in fact, deposited the three bogus checks in question. Ceron was arrested on Jan. 27, 2017 on two counts of uttering a forged instrument and one count of grand theft between $300 and $5,000. Ceron entered a plea of no contest and was adjudicated guilty on the forged instrument and theft charges. In addition, she was sentenced at the same time for different cases, including charges of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and giving false ownership information to a pawn dealer. Burglary and pawn chargesIn May 2017, a man was working at a house on E&T Circle when he saw a woman walk up to the next house, walk up to the door, push the kitchen window open and enter the house through the window. The witness thought that was unusual because he was the landlord and knew that his tenant was at work. She exited through the back door carrying two large bags of items with her. About an hour later a car pulled up and the same woman got out and entered the house again. She exited, holding a large object wrapped in a towel or blanket. The landlord tried to get the plate number as the car pulled away, but could not see it. A neighbor lady said that same morning, a woman approached her, asking for a cigarette and a glass of water, which the neighbor gave her. She then observed the woman entering the house by the window. She believed the items in the bags were clothes because she knew the woman sometimes stayed at that home with the tenant. When the tenant got home, the landlord told him about the woman, and the tenant at once suspected Ceron, who sometimes visited his home. He noticed his Yamaha bass guitar was missing, and described belt-buckle scratches on the back. A deputy followed up with a local pawn shop and learned a guitar matching the victimÂs description had been pawned by Jami Ceron. She signed the form certifying she was the owner of the guitar. Ceron was arrested on charges of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and giving false ownership information to a pawn broker. Ceron entered a plea of no contest in both cases. She was sentenced to serve three years in state prison, with credit for seven months and 10 days already served in the DeSoto jail. Ceron is no stranger to state prison. According to records of the Department of Corrections, she had previously served prison sentences in 1995, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014 on charges including forgery, uttering forged instruments, credit card fraud and escape. The crimes reportedly occurred in Sarasota, DeSoto, Manatee, Pinellas and Charlotte counties. ARRESTSFROM PAGE 7 CERON The DeSoto County SheriÂs Oce reported the following arrests: Â€ Joseph David Barber, 43, 100 block of N. Mills Ave., Arcadia. Charge: failure to register as a sex oender. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Jose Antonio Cruz, 21, rst block of Park Place, Arcadia. Charge: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Bond: $15,000. Â€ Donald Lee Kirby, 43, 6900 block of S.W. Georgia St., Fort Ogden. Charges: possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession or use of drug equipment and violation of probation. Bond: none. Â€ Blake Angel Morales, 22, no address, Arcadia. Charge: possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Jose Manuel Rodriguez, 31, 1300 block of 2nd Ave., Arcadia. Charge: violation of probation. Bond: none. Â€ Xavier Rodriguez, 24, Fort Worth, Texas. Charges: three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim age 12-16, ve counts of lewd and lascivious behavior by a person 18 or older, 26 counts of obscene communication by using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child, and three counts of child cruelty by directing or promoting sexual performance by a child. Bond: $830,000. Â€ Sergio Anteimo Arellano Cortina, 45, Wauchula. Charge: driving without a valid license. Bond: $120. Â€ Treonnis Kiron Bertell, 24, 200 block of W. Grace St., Arcadia. Charges: eeing at high speed to elude police, driving while license is suspended, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession or use of drug equipment. Bond: $8,620. Â€ Crystal Rosann Boyd, 43, 200 block of N. Macon Road, Arcadia. Charges: fraudulent use of credit cards more than twice in six months to obtain value over $100, and grand theft between $300-$5,000. Bond: $3,000. Â€ Daniel Cleto, 26, Zolfo Springs. Charges: possession of less than 0 grams of marijuana and possession or use of drug equipment. Bond: $1,000. Â€ Daniel Lee Cottrell, 50, 700 block of N. 17th St., Arcadia. Charge: driving while license is suspended. Bond: $120. Â€ Antonio Garcia, 42, 2200 block of S.E. Piper St., Arcadia. Charges: two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession or use of drug equipment. Bond: $3,500. Â€ Brett Michael Johnston, 23, 100 block of S. Pasco Ave., Arcadia. Charge: neglect of child without great bodily harm. Bond: $500. Â€ Elpideo Mendoza, 53, no address, Arcadia. Charge: discord/ aray. Bond: $500. Â€ Phillip Warren Porter, 26, Lake Placid, FL. Charges: unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft auto. Bond: $9,000. Â€ Andrew Mitchell Sinclair, 27, 1600 block of 1st Ave., Arcadia. Charge: battery. Bond: $5,000. Â€ Laura L. Cantu, 43, 2600 block of S.E. Frank J. Dwayne Way, Arcadia. Charge: assault. Bond: $120. Â€ Javier Garcia Flores, 35, 1600 block of N.E. Ora Ave., Arcadia. Charges: grand theft auto and grand theft between $300-$5,000. Bond: $3,000. Â€ Justin Louis Gardner, 29, Port Charlotte. Charges: domestic battery by strangulation, and felony battery. Bond: $2,000. Â€ Alex Justin Hurst, 31, 1900 block of S.E. West Ave., Arcadia. Charge: driving while license is suspended, third or subsequent time. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Megan Ann Jones, 45, 500 block of W. Gibson St., Arcadia. Charge: battery. Bond: $500. Â€ Paul Robinson Kail, 37, 2700 block of N.E. Snow St., Arcadia. Charges: two counts of contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a minor. Released on recognizance. Â€ Essense Simone Lawrence, 22, 6600 block of N.E. Masters Ave., Arcadia. Charge: driving while license is suspended. Bond: $120. Â€ Christina Lee Lemacks, 32, 7300 block of S.W. Ogden Acres, Arcadia. Charges: establishing a gambling house and acting as agent or employee in establishing a gambling house. Bond: $3,000. Â€ Jesus Lopez Jr., 45, rst block of S. Manatee Ave., Arcadia. Charges: driving while license is suspended for third or subsequent time, attached tag or plate not assigned, and resisting or obstructing an ocer without violence. Bond: $2,120. Â€ Roberto Morales, 19, 700 block of OÂHara St., Arcadia. Charge: assault. Bond: $1,200. Â€ Oscar Olvera, 44, 1100 block of S.E. 7th Ave., Arcadia. Charge: SUI with BAC .15 or higher or with passenger 18 or under. Released on recognizance. Â€ Fidencio Cabrera Ortiz, 31, 1200 block of 4th Ave., Arcadia. Charge: driving without a valid license. Bond: $120. Â€ Mariano Perez, 37, no address, Arcadia. Charge: discord/ aray. Released on recognizance. Â€ Travis Pressley, 36, W. Grin St., Arcadia. Charge: driving while license is suspended for third or subsequent time. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Marnie Rae Quave, 35, 5900 block of S.E. County Road 763, Arcadia. Charge: habitually driving while license is suspended. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Guillermo Jimenez Ramirez, 22, Jacaranda Apts., Arcadia. Charge: aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability. Bond: $2,500. Â€ Ernesto Ramos, 23, Zolfo Springs. Charge: driving while license is suspended. Bond: $120. Â€ Mack Edward Ritchie, 48, Ormand Beach, FL. Charge: violation of probation. Released on recognizance. Â€ Cody Allan Smith, 26, Miami St., Nocatee, FL. Charge: driving while license is suspended, third or subsequent time. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Naquaron Williams, 18, 700 block of Harris Road, Arcadia. Charge: battery. Bond: $500. Â€ Sedrick Vashon Campbell, 44, 300 block of S. Manatee Ave., Arcadia. Charge: violati8on of probation. Bond: none. Â€ Jose Herrera Hernandez, 36, Sable Drive, Arcadia. Charge: domestic battery by strangulation. Bond: $1,500. Â€ Dewayne Paul Rose, 25, 7600 block of S.E. Stewart Terrace, Arcadia. Charges: possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession or use of drug equipment and violation of probation. Bond: not stated. Â€ Leroy Thomas, 44, Hudson, FL. Charges: possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and driving while license is suspended for third or subsequent time. Bond: none. Â€ Jose Nicolas Morales, 28, 2100 block of N.W. Richard Ave., Arcadia. Charges: burglary with assault or battery, and felony batter. Bond: $5,500. Â„ Compiled by Susan E. Homan |POLICE BEATThe information for Police Beat is gathered from police, sheriffÂs office, Florida Highway Patrol, jail and fire records. Not every arrest leads to a conviction and guilt or innocence is determined by the court system.

Arcadian | Page 24 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018The Board of County Commissioners will host its 5th annual Community Conversation on Thursday, April 19 at the Turner Center Exhibit Hall, from 6-8 p.m. In the past, three different evenings were hosted as part of the annual event; however, due to declining participation in the past year or two, we are consolidating to one evening. The sole purpose of the event is to open and maintain a two-way communication. Learn what is happening at the local government level, ask questions, share ideas; but most importantly, staff and the commissioners are there to listen! We do not promise to have Âall the answers,ÂŽ we wonÂt be there to ÂsellÂŽ you on any project or initiatives, either. We are there to listen to what is important to you and ways we can bring more value in the delivery of services. The annual Community Conversation initiative was born in recognition that, in general, local government is not so great at actively communicating with the public outside of legally required notices, tax bills, and posting information on a website that most people donÂt visit! This is an initiative we intend to keep alive year after year, whether 200 people attend, or 10 people come out. ItÂs a great opportunity to spend time with staff and the commissioners outside of public board meetings (sometimes referred to as ÂboredÂŽ meetings). We hope to see you and encourage you to bring youth, bring friends, family and your neighbors. We want to hear from you! Get information on active projects, planned projects, the budget, how your tax dollars are used, and about current career opportunities. Please join us on April 19 from 6-8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Mandy Hines is the DeSoto County administrator.Plan to join the April 19 Community Conversation Mandy Hines Get ready to batten down the hatches. Again. In a preseason forecast issued Thursday, Colorado State UniversityÂs Tropical Meteorology Project predicts the upcoming hurricane season that begins June 1 will again be busy, although not as bad as the brutal 2017 season. The forecast calls for seven hurricanes, three hurricanes at Cat 3 intensity or worse, and 14 named storms. Hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, a protege of pioneering meteorologist William Gray, blamed warm waters in the western Atlantic and the mediocre odds for an El Nio in the Pacific for the uptick. ÂThe odds of getting a real gangbusters El Nio that kills the season is slim,ÂŽ he said. ÂWe canÂt rule anything out, but the odds are reduced.ÂŽ This yearÂs forecast, the 35th in what has become a traditional season opener, relies on 29 years worth of observational data, although Klotzbach and fellow forecaster Michael Bell warn that no prediction is guaranteed. The forecast will be updated, and likely improve, in late May and again in August before the peak of the season kicks in. ÂItÂs like trying to pick whoÂs going to win the NCAA tournament in the first round,ÂŽ he said. ÂYour odds are a lot higher in the final four.ÂŽ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to issue its forecast for the season in late May, said National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen. If Colorado StateÂs forecast holds true, another busy season could draw a collective moan from South Florida and the Caribbean after a punishing 2017 season. The Atlantic churned up a record 10 hurricanes in a row last year, including Harvey, Irma and Maria, for a total of 17 named storms and six major hurricanes. On average, the Atlantic produces 12 named storms and just three major hurricanes. The accumulated cyclone energy Â„ which tallies the sheer force of a hurricane season by totaling the number, duration and strength of storms Â„ was the seventh highest ever recorded and the worst since 2005, when Katrina and Wilma hammered the Gulf Coast and South Florida. While most of Florida has recovered, parts of the Keys where affordable housing is tight continue to struggle. As of March, Monroe County said nearly 200 families still lived in temporary FEMA trailers. To create the forecast, Klotzbach and Bell looked at past years with similar ocean and atmospheric conditions, including weak La Nia and El Nio patterns. Because ocean temperatures that can fuel hurricanes remain uncertain over the summer and fall, they looked at wide range of temperatures and came up with Â“ve comparable seasons. One of those, 1967, included lethal Hurricane Donna, a Cat 4 storm that killed more than 125 people as it wound through the Caribbean, including 13 in the Keys. The forecast also looked at the probability of landfall and put the odds of a Florida-East Coast landfall at 61 percent for a tropical storm, 54 percent for a hurricane and 39 percent for a major hurricane. Klotzbach said some conditions could still change to alter the forecast. If an El Nio blossoms in the Pacific on the heels of the fizzling La Nia, hurricane-smothering wind shear could increase in the Atlantic. ItÂs also not yet clear whether ocean temperatures will heat up enough over the summer to fuel more intense storms. But since activity in the Atlantic doesnÂt typically pick up until August, he said, thereÂs plenty of time to improve the forecast. ÂPeople see June and July come around and not much happens. ThatÂs normal. That happened last year,ÂŽ he said. ÂIf you had talked to me [in early August] I would have said so far itÂs a benign season. Six weeks later it wasnÂt benign anymore.ÂŽHow busy will 2018 hurricane season be?BY JENNY STALETOVICHMIAMI HERALDAtlantic Tropical, Subtropical Storm Names for 2018: Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Issac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Raphael Sarah Toney Valerie William Street ooding along Retta Esplanade in Punta Gorda on Sept. 12 caused by Hurricane Irma. Legislators are considering a multipl e options tied to development and abandonment of areas that tend to ood, amind increasingly powerful and numerous hurricanes. One proposal would call for the state to buy such lands or create permanent conservation easements. SUN PHOTOS BY TOM OÂNEILLStreet ooding caused by Hurricane Irma along McGregor Street in Punta Gorda.

PAGE 24

The News Wire Thursday, April 12, 2018 STATE Â€ NATIONAL Â€ WORLD Â€ BUSINESS Â€ WEATHER Sessions and the fight on border enforcementU.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions brought his tough stance on immigration enforcement to New Mexico on Wednesday. See page 3. MOSCOW Â„ When the U.S. Â“red Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airÂ“eld a year ago after a chemical weapons attack, the Pentagon gave Moscow advance warning to get its personnel out of harmÂs way. Since then, U.S.-Russian relations have soured, and the two nuclear powers have raised the ante, getting dangerously close to a potential military clash in Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump has taunted Moscow to Âget readyÂŽ for Ânice and new and ÂsmartÂÂŽ missiles coming to punish Syria for a purported chemical attack on Saturday that killed at least 40 people. The tweet followed RussiaÂs warning that it will strike at incoming U.S. missiles and their launch platforms. The deÂ“ant posture leaves both the White House and the Kremlin with fewer options to respond without losing face. A stern statement last month by RussiaÂs top military ofÂ“cer effectively drew a red line on any U.S. strike. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian militaryÂs General Staff, said Russian military ofÂ“cers are at Syrian facilities throughout the country and warned that Âif a threat to our servicemen emerges, the Russian armed forces will take retaliatory measures against both missiles and their carriers.ÂŽ Some say the U.S. could launch a limited strike like it did in April 2017, when it hit SyriaÂs Shayrat airÂ“eld with cruise missiles after warning Russia. Such a scenario would allow Washington to claim it made good on its promise to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad without triggering a clash with Russia. A pinpoint U.S. strike on Syrian targets that does not harm Russian personnel Âwill allow Trump to say that the Assad regime has paid a heavy price ... and Russia in its turn will be able to limit itself to ringing statements,ÂŽ said Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, an association of top Russian political and security experts. He added, however, that the U.S. would be unlikely to warn Russia of the coming strike this time. ÂThe context of the relations has changed radically in the past year: WeÂre in a state of a real and tangible Cold War,ÂŽ Lukyanov said. MoscowÂs hopes of warmer ties with Washington under Trump have been shattered by the ongoing U.S. investigations of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and its potential ties with the Trump campaign. WASHINGTON Â„ Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged Wednesday that regulation of social media companies is ÂinevitableÂŽ and disclosed that his own personal information has been compromised by malicious outsiders. But after two days of congressional testimony, what seemed clear was how little Congress seems to know about Facebook, much less what to do about it. House lawmakers aggressively questioned Zuckerberg Wednesday on user data, privacy settings and whether the company is biased against conservatives. As they did in the Senate a day earlier, both Republicans and Democrats suggested that regulation might be needed, but there was no consensus and few speciÂ“cs about what that might look like Â„ or even what the biggest problems are. New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the panel and a 30-year veteran of the House, said at the beginning of the hearing that he plans to work on legislation but is pessimistic that Congress will pass anything. ÂIÂve just seen it over and over again Â„ that we have the hearings, and nothing happens,ÂŽ he said. For Zuckerberg, who often found himself explaining what his company does in rudimentary terms to lawmakers twice his age, the hearings could be considered a win: Facebook shares rose more than 1 percent after climbing 4.5 percent on Monday. And his company regained more than $25 billion in market value that is had lost since it was revealed in March that Cambridge Analytica, a data-mining Â“rm afÂ“liated with Donald TrumpÂs presidential campaign, gathered personal information from 87 million users to try to inÂ”uence elections. Still, FacebookÂs stock remains 10 percent below where it stood before the scandal, a decline that has wiped out about $50 billion in shareholder wealth. Zuckerberg agreed to the hearings as pressure mounted over the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the companyÂs own admission last year that it had been compromised by Russians trying to inÂ”uence the 2016 election. Earlier this year, special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies in a plot to interfere in the 2016 presidential election through a social media propaganda effort that included online ad purchases using U.S. aliases and politicking on U.S. soil. A number of the Russian ads were on Facebook. Zuckerberg told the Senate on US, Russia trade rhetoric, edge toward showdown over Syria Zuckerberg testimony reveals lawmaker confusion on FacebookBy NATALIYA VASILYEVA and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOVASSOCIATED PRESSBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and BARBARA ORTUTAYASSOCIATED PRESS FACEBOOK | 2 SYRIA | 2 AP FILE PHOTOThis le photo provided March 15, 2016, by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a lineup of Russian troops is held before withdrawal at Hemeimeem air base in Syria. AP PHOTOIn this image dated Wednesday and released by Algerian TV agency Ennahar TV, shows reghters and civil security ocer at the scene of a fatal military plane crash at Boufarik military airbase, near the Algerian capital, Algiers. An Algerian military plane carrying soldiers and their families crashed soon after takeo Wednesday into a eld in northern Algeria, killing 257 people in what appeared to be the North African nationÂs worst-ever plane crash. ALGIERS, Algeria Â„ A hulking military transport plane crashed just after takeoff in Algeria Wednesday, killing 257 people in the worst aviation disaster in the North African nationÂs history and plunging the country into mourning. Soldiers, their family members and a group of 30 people returning to refugee camps from hospital stays in AlgeriaÂs capital died in the morning crash of the Russian-made II-76 aircraft. The plane went down in a Â“eld just outside a military base in Boufarik, 20 miles south of Algiers, and was devoured by Â”ames, killing 247 passengers and 10 crew members, the Defense Ministry said. There was no ofÂ“cial mention of survivors, but one witness reported seeing people jump out of the aircraft before it crashed. Arabic-language channel Dzair TV reported that Â“ve people were in a critical state, but it was unclear if they had been on the plane or were injured on the ground. Several witnesses told Algerian TV network Ennahar they saw Â”ames coming out of one of the planesÂ four engines just before it took off. ÂThe plane started to rise before falling,ÂŽ an unidentiÂ“ed man lying on what appeared to be a hospital bed told Ennahar TV. ÂThe plane crashed on its wing Â“rst and caught Â“re.ÂŽ Video on the state television channel ENTV showed a blackened hulk broken into pieces, with huge wheels scattered about along with other plane parts. FireÂ“ghters doused the Â”ames while body bags were placed in rows in the Â“eld. The victimsÂ bodies were transported to the Algerian armyÂs central hospital outside the capital. President Abdelaziz BouteÂ”ika ordered three days of mourning starting immediately and prayers for the dead on Friday at mosques across the country. In the south, the Algerianbacked Polisario Front seeking independence for Western Sahara ordered a week of mourning for the 30 dead Sahrawi people returning to its refugee camps in Tindouf, a statement from the group said. The Â”ight was scheduled to go to Tindouf and then Bechar, the site of another military base, according to Farouk Achour, spokesman for AlgeriaÂs civil protection services. Tindouf is home to many refugees from the neighboring Western Sahara, a disputed territory annexed by Morocco. Algeria is vast and plane Â”ights are often the best way to traverse AfricaÂs largest nation. It was the Â“rst crash of an Algerian military plane since February 2014, when a U.S.-built C-130 Hercules turboprop slammed into a mountain in Algeria, killing at least 76 people and leaving just one survivor. The four-engine Il-76 made its maiden voyage in 1997, according to Aviation Safety Network. The plane has been in production since the 1970s, and is widely used for both commercial freight and military transport. The Algerian military, which historically depended on the Soviet Union and then Russia for military hardware, operates several of the planes. Richard AboulaÂ“a, an aviation analyst with Teal Group outside Washington, said it would be difÂ“cult to compare the accident rate of the II-76 to common Western airplanes because of the relatively smaller number produced and the fewer hours Â”own. ÂIt is a Russian design. That doesnÂt make it unsafe, but they tend to need more maintenance,ÂŽ he said. The II-76 was designed to carry extremely heavy cargo, and it is unlikely that passengers alone Â„ even a large number Â„ would be a problem. AboulaÂ“a said the number of troops that Crash kills 257 in AlgeriaÂs deadliest aviation disasterBy AOMAR OUALIASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON Â„ House Speaker Paul Ryan will leave Congress having achieved one of his career goals: rewriting the tax code. On his other deÂ“ning aim Â„ balancing the budget and cutting back beneÂ“t programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Â„ Ryan has utterly failed. Ryan, a budget geek with a passion for details who announced Wednesday that he would retire next year, proved adroit in drawing up budget plans that balanced on paper but didnÂt get beyond the hypothetical. Under his leadership, Republicans never tried to implement the deep cuts his budget called for, particularly his vision of turning Medicare into a voucher-like program for future retirees. Instead, the House passed steep tax cuts while increasing spending, setting the government on a path to rising deÂ“cits. The gap between RyanÂs reach and his grasp was especially stark this week. The Congressional Budget OfÂ“ce said Monday that the tax bill and last monthÂs $1.3 trillion spending bill would add more than $2.6 trillion to the national debt over the coming decade Â„ and the looming return of the Â“rst trillion-dollar deÂ“cits since President Barack ObamaÂs Â“rst term. The rising deÂ“cits donÂt lay at RyanÂs feet alone. Although the 48-year-old senator from Wisconsin was an aggressive salesman for his plans, and was once viewed as the new face of a GOP focused on shrinking the size of government, the party Speaker Ryan will leave behind new tax code, busted budgetBy ANDREW TAYLORASSOCIATED PRESS ALGERIA | 2RYAN | 2 AP PHOTOHouse Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., leaves a news conference after announcing that he will not run for re-election at the end of this term, Wednesday, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Horror in the Algerian skies

The Sun /Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.yoursun.com Page 3 NATION ALMANACToday is Thursday, April 12 the 102nd day of 2018. There are 263 days left in the year. Today in historyOn April 12, 1861 the Civil War began as Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. On this dateIn 1776 North CarolinaÂs Fourth Provincial Congress authorized the colonyÂs delegates to the Continental Congress to support independence from Britain. In 1934 ÂTender Is the Night,ÂŽ by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published in book form after being serialized in ScribnerÂs Magazine. In 1955 the Salk vaccine against polio was declared safe and effective. In 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly in space, orbiting the earth once before making a safe landing. In 1963 civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, charged with contempt of court and parading without a permit. (During his time behind bars, King wrote his ÂLetter from Birmingham Jail.ÂŽ) TodayÂs birthdaysChildrenÂs author Beverly Cleary is 102. Actress Jane Withers is 92. Opera singer Montserrat Caballe is 85. Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is 78. Actor Ed OÂNeill is 72. Talk show host David Letterman is 71. Rock musician Will Sergeant (Echo & the Bunnymen) is 60. Folk-pop singer Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) is 54. Actress Shannen Doherty is 47. Actress Claire Danes is 39. Actress Saoirse Ronan is 24. Bible verse ÂMy voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.ÂŽ Â„ Psalm 5:3. Time with God is the greatest way to start the day. Make time in the morning to meet with Him. LAS CRUCES, N.M. Â„ As thousands of National Guard troops deploy to the Mexico border, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions brought his tough stance on immigration enforcement to New Mexico on Wednesday, telling border sheriffs that cracking down on illegal crossings and drug smuggling is necessary to build a lawful immigration system. Sessions ticked off stories about smugglers being caught with opioids and cocaine at the U.S.-Mexico border and legal loopholes that have encouraged more immigrants to make the journey. ÂThis is not acceptable. It cannot continue,ÂŽ he said. ÂNo one can defend the way the system is working today.ÂŽ Outside, dozens of immigrant rights activists protested SessionsÂ visit, once again rejecting his previous characterization of the border region as Âground zeroÂŽ in the Trump administrationÂs Â“ght against cartels and human trafÂ“ckers. ÂHe was wrong then, and he is wrong now.ÂŽ said Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, just south of Las Cruces. As SessionsÂ motorcade arrived, the group chanted in Spanish and waved signs against the proposed border wall and the deployment of National Guard troops to the region Sessions was speaking in Las Cruces at the Texas Border SheriffÂs Coalition annual spring meeting with the Southwestern Border SheriffÂs Coalition, which includes 31 sheriffÂs departments from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The departments patrol areas located within 25 miles of the border. SessionsÂ trip to Las Cruces, a small city about an hour north of the border, comes as construction begins nearby on 20 miles of steel fencing that ofÂ“cials say is a part of TrumpÂs promised wall. U.S. Customs and Border Protection ofÂ“cials say the heightened barrier will be harder to get over, under and through than the old post and rail barriers that line the stretch of sprawling desert west of the Santa Teresa border crossing. Citing a crisis on the border, Sessions has issued an order directing federal prosecutors to put more emphasis on charging people with illegal entry. He took another swipe Wednesday at sanctuary cities, telling the sheriffs that itÂs Âillogical and insaneÂŽ that a person can enter the country illegally on Monday and make their way to San Francisco by Wednesday and not be deported. Sessions said the crisis has been allowed to fester for decades while politicians made promised but did nothing to Â“x the system. A 37 percent increase in illegal border crossings in March brought more than 50,000 immigrants into the United States. It was triple the number of reported illegal border crossings in the same period last year. It was still far lower, however, than the surges during the last years of the Obama administration and prior decades. The attorney generalÂs Âzero-toleranceÂŽ involving border crossings calls for prosecuting people who are caught illegally entering the United States for the Â“rst time. In the past, such offenses were treated as misdemeanors. He also set quotas for immigration judges to reduce enormous court backlogs, saying they must complete 700 cases a year to earn a satisfactory grade. The quotas take effect Oct. 1.Sessions takes fight on border enforcement to New MexicoBy MARY HUDETZASSOCIATED PRESS AP FILE PHOTOIn this April 21, 2017, photo, United States Attorney General Je Sessions stands near a secondary border fence during a news conference at the U.S.-Mexican border next to the Brown Field Border Patrol Station in San Diego. | NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFSNearly $5 billion LAX people mover contract approvedLOS ANGELES (AP) Â„ A $4.9 billion contract to design, build and operate an automated people mover at Los Angeles International Airport has been approved by the City Council. It is expected to be operational in 2023 and have a capacity of 10,000 people an hour. The elevated 2-mile system will have driverless electric trains that carry airline passengers between terminals, a transportation center and the Metro light-rail system, reducing the number of vehicles that use the airportÂs central loop roads. The contract voted on Wednesday goes to a consortium called LAX Integrated Express Solutions, known as LINXS. Bombardier Transportation will provide the operating system, including all vehicles.Risk of Zika infection through sex may last only a monthNEW YORK (AP) Â„ A new study finds that ZikaÂs risk of sexual transmission appears to end in one month, quicker than health officials thought. The study suggests health officials have been overly cautious in advising couples to abstain from sex or to use condoms for at least six months after a male partner comes down with Zika. Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the results are spurring work on new and better recommendations. But they say the study itself is not enough to change current guidelines yet. The study was published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. AP IMAGEThis 2016 digitally-colorized electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the Zika virus, in red. www.garysinisefoundation.org Our Mission Charlotta SorenstamDirector of Instructionadno=54515112 Heron Creek Golf & Country Club and Sunbelt Rentals are proudly hosting The Gary Sinise Foundation Charity Golf Tournament brought to you by the Atlanta Braves. April 12th, 2018 8:00 AM Shotgun Awards Luncheon after the tournament Call the Golf Shop at 941-423-6955 to sign up At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, Â“ rst responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. 65 specially adapted smart homes for Americas most severely wounded Veterans will be completed or underway by the end of this year. Call the Golf Shop at 941-423-6955 to sign up or sponsor a hole starting at $100

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Page 4 www.yoursun.com The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 STATE-BY-STATE The pastor of a Chicago-area megachurch resigned after a series of sexual misconduct claims he described as Âat-out lies.ÂŽ Bill Hybels, 66, founded Willow Creek Community Church more than four decades ago, building it into an eight-campus Evangelical Christian megachurch with a 7,000-seat worship center. Hybels has been dogged in recent years by a series of investigations into claims of inappropriate behavior with female staers and congregants. Accusations of lewd comments and inappropriate touching stretching back more than 20 years are Âat-out lies,ÂŽ Hybels told the Chicago Tribune last month. In a statement released late Tuesday, Hybels said church elders clearly stated that outside, independent investigations found no evidence to support the Âallegations brought to their attention.ÂŽ ÂIn recent times, IÂve been accused of many things I simply did not do,ÂŽ Hybels said. He said he had been ÂnaiveÂŽ and Âplaced myself in situations that would have been far wiser to avoid.ÂŽ Hybels said that he appreciated the support from within his congregation but that the controversy was a distraction from the churchÂs mission. ÂWhile most of you in the Willow congregation have listened carefully to and accepted the ndings of the external investigations commissioned by the elders, some in the wider Christian community continue to be confused and conicted,ÂŽ he said. Hybels had planned to retire this year to focus his energy on the Willow Creek Association, a nonprot group dedicated to leadership development that conducts a summit each year. He said he plans to step away from the association. ÂGiven my love for both this church and the leadership summit, you can imagine how grieved I have been by the way the controversy surrounding me has impacted both these ministries,ÂŽ Hybels said in his statement. ÂBut it has been increasingly clear to us that they canÂt ourish when the valuable time and energy of their leaders are divided.ÂŽ Hybels apologized to the congregation for how he handled the accusations. He expressed regret for reacting with anger when the claims were made public. ÂI apologize to you, my church, for a response that was defensive instead of one that invited conversation and learning,ÂŽ he said.HIGHLIGHT: ILLINOIS Bill Hybels says heÂs Âaccused of many things I simply did not do.ÂŽ APMegachurch pastor quits, calls claims ÂliesÂJohn BaconUSA TODAYALABAMABridgeport: Google held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $600 million data center. Between 75 and 100 technical jobs are expected to be created. ALASKAJuneau: The Legislature rejected Gov. Bill WalkerÂs nomination of a former Planned Parenthood eld organizer to serve on a board that regulates midwifery in Alaska. ARIZONAPhoenix: The city jumped in one year from 44th place to 19th in a U.S. News & World Report study of the best places to live in the country. ARKANSASTown: Jury selection is underway in the trial of former state senator Jon Woods, who faces 15 fraud charges for an alleged kickback scheme. CALIFORNIADeath Valley National Park: Federal ocials say the Eureka Valley evening primrose, a rare desert wildower that g rows only in Death Valley National Park, is no longer endangered. COLORADOColorado Springs: A recent report shows that work zone fatalities have gone up. Last year the number was 17, compared with seven in 2016 and 2015 and eight in 2014. CONNECTICUTStamford: Cops charged a man suspected of being involved with a phone scam that defrauded a 90-year-old woman out of $9,000.DELAWAREWilmington: Mayor Mike PurzyckiÂs sta was asked to explain the $79,352 spent on oce equipment and furniture last year, an amount that greatly exceeds the $10,000 that had been budgeted.DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:A man was arrested for impersonating a police ocer and causing a disturbance at Whole Foods. The man was said to have threatened customers with a pair of handcus. When ocers arrived, police say the man became aggressive and handcued one of the ocers. He then demanded the ocer to Âstop resisting.ÂŽ FLORIDACrestview: The driver of a pickup truck drove through the front windows of a store. A police ocer says the driverÂs foot became stuck under the pedals of the vehicle and he could not come to a stop before crashing.GEORGIAPerry: Perdue Farms will create 125 new jobs and invest $42 million to expand its cooking operation in Houston County, Gov. Nathan Deal announced. HAWAIIHonolulu: The missile alert Hawaii mistakenly sent out in January prompted the Federal Communications Commission to recommend that government workers avoid the phrase Âthis is not a drillÂŽ during practice sending emergency notices. IDAHOBoise: The state is considering applications from transgender people who want their birth certificates to properly reect their identities .INDIANAEvansville: About 80 jail inmates will move to Illinois and Kentucky during the next two weeks to alleviate congestion. IOWAAmes: A manufacturing plant was ned $12,000 following the workplace death of an employee in January. KANSASTopeka: Kansas is seeking to put the brakes on out-of-state gubernatorial candidates after 10 people living outside its borders took the initial steps to run.KENTUCKYLexington: Homeowners in a community were notied of expanded dog restrictions that now ban 1 1breeds, including German shepherds, St. Bernards and chows, the Lexington Herald Leader reports. LOUISIANARayne: A 25-year-old man and a teena g e bo y are accused of killing two endangered whooping cranes nearly two years ago, wildlife ocials said. They face up to $65,000 in nes and 11 years in jail. MAINEOrono: Joan Ferrini-Mundy will become the president of the University of Maine on July 1. She was the CEO of the National Science Foundation. MARYLANDSalisbury: A theft suspect was captured after a resident, awakened by his cat about 1 a.m., saw someone taking items from his car. MASSACHUSETTSPlymouth: A wastewater treatment rm agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle a lawsuit with Massachusetts for a spill in which more than 10 million gallons of raw sewage owed into state-owned woodlands in Plymouth and Plymouth Harbor. MICHIGANHowell: A farmer charged with animal cruelty after about 70 cows were found dead on his properties has been sentenced to 15 days in jail and ordered to pay nearly $20,000 in restitution.MINNESOTAMinneapolis: A pizza delivery man is recovering after being shot during a suspected robbery. Police are still looking for suspects .MISSISSIPPIArcola: A re at a nightclub damaged the only convenience store and post oce in the town of 360. Residents now will have to drive several miles to buy groceries, get gas or pick up mail. MISSOURIJeerson City: A former administrator of the Pettis County Ambulance District was sentenced to two years in federal prison without parole for embezzling more than $227,000. MONTANABillings: Twelve people, including two this week, have been shot and killed by law ocers in Billings since May 2012. NEBRASKABeatrice: Fiddle playing will be celebrated at the 20th annual Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival and Acoustic Band Contest at the Homestead National Monument on May 26. NEVADALas Vegas: City leaders were to see the plans for the $860 million expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center. NEW HAMPSHIREConcord: The House subcommittee is working on a bill that would allow 16and 17year-old students to work more hours during school vacation weeks and summer break. The increase would be from the current 48 hours to 56 hours.NEW JERSEYJersey City: Transit ocials say a boy suered non-lifethreatening injurieswhen he tried to hang from a light rail train and fell. NEW MEXICOAlbuquerque: Sara Mauter, 31, accused of abandoning ve dogs to die in a sweltering car last week, has been arrested in Arizona, police say. NEW YORKAlbany: Seven nalists have been chosen by the state for a $2.5 million competition seeking innovative ideas to boost economic activity and tourism along the State Canal System. NORTH CAROLINACaroleen: Robbins Oil Chan g e and Ins p ection isWASHINGTONLind: A North Carolina company plans to start installing 81,000 solar panels near Lind, making it the largest solar farm in Washington. WEST VIRGINIAMoundsville: The Finance Committee is in talks about upgrading to a new software system, the Wheeling News-Register reports.WISCONSINMilwaukee: A man who fell into the Milwaukee River was rescued after a call for help. Robert Carr, who is trained in water rescues, heard the cries, hopped into his pontoon boat and drove across the river to save the man. WYOMINGCheyenne: The Wyoming Lottery transferred $1.4 million in prots to the state TreasurerÂs Oce for distribution to local cities, towns and counties. From sta and wire reports oering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a boat and the arrest of those responsible for its theft.NORTH DAKOTAMinot: TheMinot Planning Commission approved a permit for the request of Power of the Purse, Inc., a nonprot group, to bring a transitional living facility to the city to serve people with disabilities or other diculties. OHIOColumbus: Regulators of OhioÂs new medical marijuana program say not all of the sta teÂs grower s, manufacturers and dispensaries will be operational by the legislated deadline of Sept. 8. OKLAHOMAWoodward: Warm temperatures and low humidity have caused Forestry Services ocials to warn the western part of the state of re Burn bans in the region have been issued.OREGONAstoria: Clatsop County voters might have the option in November to institute a tax on retail marijuana sales. PENNSYLVANIATurtle Creek: The state Fish and Boat Commission determined that Turtle Creek, a popular stream in the area, will not be stocked this year with trout. RHODE ISLANDEast Greenwich: The New England Institute of Technology announced that actor William Shatner will deliver the commencement address to students on May 6. SOUTH CAROLINAColumbia: State Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, has proposed legislation that would make it illegal to sell or give an energy drink to anyone under 18 years old. SOUTH DAKOTAAberdeen: Volunteers of America will stop sponsoring the Foster Grandparents and Retired Senior Volunteer programs in eastern and northeastern South Dakota by the end of May.TENNESSEENashville: The state GOP executive committee has removed seven U.S. Senate candidates and one in the governorÂs race from the August primary ballot, saying they lacked party voting credentials to run. TEXASAustin: Health ocials say a revised method for counting maternal deaths found that the 2012 number was drastically lower than previously reported Â„ 56 instead of 147. UTAHSalt Lake City: Saying drugs designed to ease suering should be tested and approved by ocials rst, the Mormon church has come out against a ballot initiative that would allow people with certain medical conditions access to marijuana. VERMONTBarre: Students at Spaulding High School are seeking a grant to help reduce bathroom waste by installing hand dryers rather than providing paper towels in two bathrooms. VIRGINIAVirginia Beach: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking mariners to slow down or route around Virginia Beach to protect a group of ve endangered right whales seen in the area. News from across the USA

The Sun /Thursday, April 12, 2018 www.yoursun.com Page 7 MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson Cryptoquip 2011 by King Features Syndicate Challenger YesterdayÂs Challenger Answers DEAR DR. ROACH: How many people must buy the three-part series of HPV vaccine for about $500 to prevent one case of cancer? You easily can nd the facts if you bother to check. I am not saying that there are no benets to the HPV vaccine or that it isn't safe. I am saying that all claims about medicines should be checked; otherwise, we are just believing blindly in an educated elite, just like religion. If I have a 0.0001 percent chance of getting a particular disease, what do I care if my chances of getting it are decreased to 0.00001 percent if it costs us all millions of dollars in insurance premiums? Â„ K.J. ANSWER: I agree with you that claims about medications should be checked, and vaccines, like other treatments designed to prevent future problems, should be held to a higher standard than drugs used to relieve symptoms. It's important to consider both the costs to an individual and the costs to society. For an individual, dollar costs of the treatment are only part of the equation. An individual needs to consider possible side eects, and his or her particular risk for developing the condition. In the case of human papilloma virus, the virus is spread by intimate activity, most commonly beginning in the teens and 20s. The vaccine is eective when given before infection, which is why it is recommended to be given at age 11 or 12, prior to exposure. (Before age 15, a two-dose series is recommended; it's a three-dose series for those over 15.) The dollar cost is high for the series, but most insurance companies cover it. So, for most individuals, it's a decision of whether reducing the risk of future cancer (cervical cancer for women, head and neck cancer for men and women) is worth the risk of side eects, which are usually mild and last no more than a day or two. To me, that's an easy decision. For a society, making a decision is much more complex. Public health experts most commonly use a metric called "cost per qualityadjusted life year saved" abbreviated "QALY." The published estimates for the HPV vaccine vary, but average about $20,000 per QALY, a number usually considered costeective. If future head and neck cancers are considered (they should be, since the evidence is mounting that HPV vaccine indeed will protect against HPV-related cancers of the head and neck, among others), then society actually might save money by vaccinating children before exposure. Cancers are very expensive to treat, and preventing them is not only good medicine, it's good economics. DEAR DR. ROACH: I had been taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D-3 for the past three years, and my new endocrinologist doctor reduced the dosage to 1,000 IU. Can it be harmful to take too much D-3? Â„ D.M.P. ANSWER: It can be dangerous to take too much vitamin D, but it is uncommon to see and would be really unusual with a dose of 2,000 IU a day. Toxicity is uncommon at doses less than 4,000 a day. I have seen only a few cases of vitamin D toxicity in my career. One was from a mistakenly written prescription; another was from a person who was convinced that more was better. The toxicity in vitamin D excess stems mostly from the high blood calcium, which comes from the bones. In the short term, it causes muscle weakness and vomiting, and if too much vitamin D is taken for a prolonged time, the bones can be damaged from low calcium and the kidneys may develop calcium stones.DEAR ABBY: My mom is a recovering alcoholic. Her alcoholism has caused emotional distress and damaged our relationship to the point that I am aloof and terse toward her. She's six months sober now, receiving help and making an eort to repair the hurt and pain she has caused. But I'm struggling in moving forward. My mom is generous, kind, loving, and has always been supportive. I feel guilty for the ambivalent part of me that could care less about xing the issues SHE caused in our relationship. It saddens both of us that I have a hard time being kind and loving toward her. Any advice? Â„ Stubborn Teen In South Carolina DEAR TEEN: Alcoholism is a disease that aects not only the drinker, but also those close to her (or him). That your mother is receiving help and working to remain sober means she is trying as hard as she can to get better and remain that way. Forgiveness isn't automatic. It is a conscious choice on the part of the injured party. To think you are alone in this situation would be a mistake. There's a support group for younger family members of alcoholics called Alateen. If you attend some of the meetings, it may help you to be kinder and more loving toward your mother. Alateen groups are everywhere. To nd one visit al-anon.org. DEAR ABBY: What is the purpose of high school graduation announcements? My son is graduating, so we are preparing announcements, but I'm not sure who to send them to, and I don't want anyone to think we are asking for a gift. We have received several announcements from my son's friends who live out of state. Should I send them gifts? Â„ Wants To Get It Right DEAR WANTS: Graduation announcements are usually sent to close family and friends. Recipients are under no obligation to send a gift. Your congratulations should be enough. Dear Readers: When you're washing up in a public restroom, is it better to DRY YOUR HANDS with a paper towel, or should you use the air dryer? It's a big debate, but here's the scoop: Paper towels come out on top. Why? Hand-washing is critical for healthfulness, but air dryers are generally thought to be ineective at best for drying. Rubbing your hands with a paper towel exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells, as well as more dampness than the air dryer. Also, the air dryers are loud, and they can introduce viruses back into the air. Dear Heloise: When I need to write down my license plate number, sometimes I can't remember it. So I've used my phone to take photos of the license plates of our cars; I can call them up in a minute, without having to go outside. Â„ James M., Spokane, Wash.There are several factors to consider about vaccinations Teen struggles to rebuild bond with alcoholic mom Best way to dry your handsHints from Heloise Dr. Roach Dear Abby

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Page 8 www.yoursun.com The Sun / Thursday, April 12, 2018 ARIES (March 21-April 19). Tune your super sensitive soul in to the needs of those you love. ItÂs like you can audibly hear someoneÂs faint, subliminal cry for help. And yes, itÂs also within your ability to save the day. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). On the horizon youÂll catch a glimmer of whatÂs to come. DonÂt mistake this for a xed destiny. If the picture thatÂs coming together isnÂt what you want, you can still change it. If it is, donÂt relax. Keep working until it gets here. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Who will you be when you grow up? The question doesnÂt go away at 10 or 20 or 50. It persists. Your introspective mood will bring a new take on the matter today. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Life is easier for you when you are the favorite, as you will be today. It also doesnÂt hurt that you reward people for their special care with your warm reception of it. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Everyone is dierent, with dierent tolerances, fears and strengths. Seek out people who can handle what bothers you, and handle what you can for others. All will be well. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). YouÂre drawn to pretty things, but you donÂt always realize why they look so good to you. Though aesthetics certainly contribute to your attraction, itÂs really cinched by the values represented in a thing. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Maybe todayÂs trickle of good stu wonÂt seem like much, but make an eort to catch some of this anyway. Then you can follow the trickle to the stream and the stream to the river. All rivers lead to the ocean. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have a valuable talent you sometimes take for granted. ItÂs like the Âdiamonds on the soles of her shoesÂŽ that Paul Simon sang about. When the sun catches you in action, theyÂll get a glint of what you can do. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Around some people you feel condent and you give a top performance. Around others you canÂt think or talk straight. One group is not better for you than the other. Both relationship dynamics have something to teach you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). YouÂre on the lookout for a new possession, tool, relationship or practice to add to your daily routine. Finding the best thing isnÂt as important as nding the thing that ts your lifestyle the best. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You want to believe the best in people, though it would be foolish to always act on that assumption. For right now, hold on, reserving judgment until you can tell which way the situation is leaning. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Ask any photographer, magazine editor or model: It takes a multitude of unglamorous actions to pull o high glamour. And thatÂs not just the case with glamour. Greatness in general is achieved through an accumulation of humble actions. TODAYÂS BIRTHDAY (April 12). Your goal is too big for one person. Others with complementary aims will assist. Assemble your team, and march forward together. Scorpio and Capricorn adore you. A surprise will delight and motivate you in May. September brings a celebratory resolution of something youÂve been learning about or dealing with for years. Gemini and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 13, 10, 5, 27 and 19. HOROSCOPE BLONDIE By Dean Young and John Marshall BORN LOSER By Art and Chip Sansom BABY BLUES By Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott MUTTS By Patrick McDonnell DOONSBURY By Garry Trudeau

Photo provided5-year-old Zane Ackerman got a little help showing o his rst redsh Â„ a big fat 30-incher. He is now ocially spoiled for life on reds. WEEKLY MAGAZINE BoatingAnd Fishing.com Facebook.com/ WaterLineMagazine23170 Harborview Road Port Charlotte, FL 33980CUST. SERVICE & SUBSCRIPTIONS941-206-1300PUBLISHERCAPT. JOSH OLIVE941-276-9657Publisher@WaterLineWeekly.comMARKETINGSun PublisherGlen Nickerson941-205-6400GNickerson@sun-herald.comAdvertising SalesLaura Speer 941-205-6405Sales@WaterLineWeekly.comBoatersÂ’ Bargains 941-429-3110 CONTRIBUTORSCapt. Ralph Allen Abbie Banks Greg Bartz Capt. Billy Barton Capt. Rex Gudgel Capt. Van Hubbard Robin Jenkins, DVM Robert Lugiewicz Capt. Mike Myers Dana Ruque Chandler Smith Tim Spain Betty Staugler Capt. Cayle Wills Produced & printed by Sun Coast Media Group NOTE: Our writersÂ opinions do not necessarily reect those of the publisher or Sun Coast Media Group. We do our best to be accurate in matters of fact in this publication, but matters of opinion are left to each individual author. ON THE COVER TABLE OF CONTENTS It was just another beautiful sunny day with a light breeze in Southwest Florida. The Venice Area Birding Association had planned our yearly trek to Randall Research Center on Pine Island. This trip included 11 people and a convoy of three vans. Birding Lee County ANGLING 101 Â• ROBERT LUGIEWICZ Spring fling ....................................................................................................Page 8 AROUND CHARLOTTE HARBOR Â• CAPT. RALPH ALLEN Back to Plan A ................................................................................................Page 9 THE FISH COACH Â• CAPT. JOSH OLIVE DonÂt feed Flipper ........................................................................................Page 10 ANGLING 201 Â• CAPT. CAYLE WILLS Basic questions ............................................................................................Page 11 PADDLE FUN, PADDLE SAFE Â• DANA RUQUE Just wear it ..................................................................................................Page 14 ASK YOUR SEA GRANT AGENT Â• BETTY STAUGLER SchoolÂs in session ........................................................................................Page 15 TOURNAMENT BASSINÂ’ Â• GREG BARTZ Cool new baits .............................................................................................Page 17 PEACE RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER Â• ROBIN JENKINS, DVM Earth Day .....................................................................................................Page 18 A LIFE ON THE WATER Â• CAPT. VAN HUBBARD ItÂs getting good ...........................................................................................Page 19 Cracking the whale shark code.....................................................................Page 20 SLACK TIDES ...........................................................................................Page 24 BIRDING ABBIE BANKS Page 16 BULLETIN BOARD | Page 3 TIDE CHARTS | Page 4 FISHING REGULATIONS | Page 5 FISH FINDER | Page 6 MAP OF LOCAL WATERS | Page 7 RECIPES | Pages 16,20,23 FISH PROFILES | Pages 17,20 READER PHOTOS | Pages 12-13 BOATING CLASSES | Page 23 SOLUNAR TABLES | Page 23 REGULAR FEATURES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CAPT. JOSH: I recently attended the Charlotte County CCA banquet and was disappointed that Lefty KrehÂs passing was not mentioned. Lefty was a strong supporter of CCA, an advocate of catch and release, and a legend in the sportshing world. Shame on CCA for not thinking of this and taking the time to make a brief statement. Â„ John Rappold JOHN: As a member of the local CCA board, IÂll take my share of the blame for that. YouÂre right Â„ Lefty was an amazing man, and his passing should have been noted (as Capt. Rex Gudgel did here in WaterLine). I apologize for the oversight. Â„ Capt. Josh Olive, WaterLine Publisher CAPT. JOSH: As a recently relocated snowbird who was totally intimidated with all the rules, regs, local knowledge needed, and not to mention learning to navigate local waters, I would not have made it without WaterLine. I have read every issue I could get my hands on and made my presence known at FishinÂ FrankÂs. I have heard and listened to Josh Olive, FishinÂ Frank, Robert and Steve at FrankÂs, shed with Capt. Cayle and been a good student. You guys are great and again I thank you. You all know how frustrating it can be learning new stu when you last sat in a classroom 40-plus years ago. It refreshing to pick up your publication and get all that it delivers. Keep up the good work and continue with the great contributions to shing and more importantly the conservation of our beautiful bays and harbors. This is all we got; continue to push conservation. Â„ J. Brian Burby J.: Folks like you are the reason this magazine exists and why I work so hard at educating the public about shing, outdoor exploration and the incredible places we have to do those things. Thank you for reminding me why itÂs worth it. Â„ Capt. Josh Olive, WaterLine Publisher CAPT. JOSH: Makes me happy that you highlighted palmettos. With the right clothing and especially eye protection, carefully go inside one of the taller clumps, sit down on a trunk and enjoy a few moments looking out and looking in. Also, IÂve noticed that palmettos are being used in the landscaping of some trac medians and entrances and wondered about their cultivation, if thatÂs the right term. It seems that they would not do well as transplants. Thank you for that article. Â„ C. H. C. H.: Palmettos do make wonderful low-maintenance landscape plants, which is why theyÂre popular in medians. But youÂre right Â„ they donÂt transplant well. ItÂs common practice to place about double the number of plants wanted, since so many of them die after being moved. Still, almost all cultivated palmettos are collected, not grown, because seedlings take years (up to 20!) to become small plants. The silver form, which is found in some areas of FloridaÂs east coast, stands out nicely among the more common green palmettos. Plant native when you can. Â„ Capt. Josh Olive, WaterLine PublisherIf you have a comment or question for WaterLine, email it to Editor@WaterLineWeekly.com.Letters are welcome on any outdoor-related subject, but we do have some rules. Please keep them to less than 250 words. Letters may be edited for length as well as grammar and spelling. We reserve the right to refuse any letter not signed with the writerÂs full name. Slanderous or libelous material will not be published. The Letters to the Editor section is designed as a public forum for community discourse. The opinions and statements made in letters are solely those of the individual writers. WaterLine and Sun Coast Media Group take no responsibility for the content of these letters. ItÂs been a few years since I learned the value of a good pair of sunglasses, but itÂs worth revisiting the subject. Last week, I managed to leave my sunglasses in the truck as I was heading out on the water. What can I say Â„ it was dark and I just plain forgot Âem. Now, I ainÂt no dummy, so I always carry a spare pair in my bag. But my spares are cheapies, and I guess I had forgotten what itÂs like to wear cheap sunglasses. ZZ Top makes it sound really cool, but it is not. For some people, pricey sunglasses are a fashion statement. I used to assume thatÂs all it was, and for a long time I resisted spending more than 20 bucks on pair. ÂBrand snobs,ÂŽ I used to tell myself when people bragged on their high-dollar shades. ÂBesides, these are polarized too, so whatÂs the dierence?ÂŽ Lemme tell ya, thereÂs for sure a dierence. As soon as I popped those budget eye-hiders on my face, I realized itÂs time to upgrade my backup glasses. Like, yesterday. First o, the lenses donÂt have a consistent thickness. That creates little distortions. No big deal? YouÂre right Â„for about the Â“rst 30 minutes. Then those distortions start to mess with your head. ItÂs almost like looking at the world through a Photoshop wave Â“lter. Then I couldnÂt get them clean enough. Try as I might, lens cleaner and a microÂ“ber cloth just werenÂt helping. The view was hazy all the time. Finally I realized why Â„ the lenses were full of tiny scratches. The low-end polymers used to keep costs down apparently donÂt have much durability. Now, IÂll admit that IÂve probably cleaned the lenses with my shirt, so itÂs probably my own fault. But IÂll bet you do the same, especially if you get a little sea spray on there. Decent lenses stand up to that kind of abuse better (although even expensive plastics will eventually scratch, so glass is a much better choice if youÂre really concerned about clarity in the long term). Polarized is polarized, right? No. My Â“shing buddies were seeing things that I could not. I thought I was just losing it, until I asked one of them to swap shades with me for a minute. Suddenly, I could see what I was used to seeing. It was hard to hand them back. Fortunately, his glasses didnÂt Â“t well on my fat melon or I might have had to Â“ght him for them. ItÂs not just the polarization Â„ itÂs which wavelengths of light are allowed through the lenses. Every big brand has their own technology for this, and some of it is just marketing. But some of it really makes a dierence. By the end of the day, I was frustrated because I knew I wasnÂt seeing as much as I should and I had a headache from the distorted view. Shame on me for forgetting such a vital piece of equipment, and double shame for my backup being so poor. ThatÂs a mistake IÂll try really hard to not make again. FROM THE PUBLISHERÂ’S DESK Â• CAPT. JOSH OLIVE Hide your eyes

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Â€ Page 3 Â€ April 12, 2018 OUTDOOR NEWS BULLETIN BOARDGOT AN EVENT COMING UP?WeÂd be happy to let people know. Email your info to Editor@ WaterLineWeekly.com at least two weeks before the event.PLACIDA FISHING PIER CLOSED The Placida Fishing Pier (13120 Pier Road, Placida) will be closed until further notice due to damage from a recent re. Please visit Ainger Fishing Pier (1385 Beach Road, Englewood), El Jobean Fishing Pier (5001 El Jobean Road, El Jobean) or Boca Grande Fishing Pier (5810 Gasparilla Road, Placida).TIPPECANOE BOARDWALK CLOSEDThe boardwalk crossing the tidal creek at Tippecanoe Environmental Park (2400 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte) is temporarily closed to public access for repairs. The boardwalk is at the southern end of the environmental park. Repairs have begun and should be completed in late April.BILL COY PLATFORM INSTALLATIONSite preparation for the installation of a new wildlife observation platform at Bill Coy Preserve (5350 Placida Road, Englewood) commenced April 9. The construction is expected to be completed in approximately four weeks. Please use caution in the construction area. ENGLEWOOD FISHING CLUBThe Englewood Fishing Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 12 at the Rotonda West Association building (646 Rotonda Circle, Rotonda West). This month the club will host FishinÂ Frank and his pirate crew, speaking on whatÂs biting and how to catch them. For more information and directions, go to EnglewoodFishingClub.net.LECTURES AT DINGThe J. N. ÂDingÂŽ Darling National Wildlife Refuge (1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel) is hosting a series of weekly free lectures. Lectures will be held twice each Friday, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The seasonÂs complete schedule is listed below. Seating for the lectures is limited and available on a rst-come basis. Early arrivals can save one seat each and then may explore the Visitor & Education Center or Indigo Trail before the lecture starts. Saved seats must be lled 15 minutes before lecture time. For more info, call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or visit https://goo.gl/ B37knm. April 13: Avian researcher Dr. Kenneth Meyer ÂSwallow-tailed Kites: 10,000 Miles to Survival.ÂŽFLY FISHING SCHOOLCBÂs Saltwater Outtters (1249 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota) will have an Orvis-endorsed y shing school from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14. The school will cover y casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. Instructors Capt. Rick Grassett and Capt. Ed Hurst will also cover leader construction, y selection and saltwater y shing techniques. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate y casters, will focus on basics but also work with intermediate casters on correcting faults and improving casting skills. Cost for the school is $175 per person and includes the use of Orvis y tackle and lunch. Contact CBÂs at 941-349-4400 or Info@CBsOuttters.com to make reservations.VENICE FISHING CLUB MEETSThe Venice Fishing Club will meet at the Nokomis Fire Dept. (111 Pavonia Road, Nokomis) at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. At the April 17 meeting, the speaker will be Capt. Josh Olive, discussing techniques for targeting king mackerel and blackfin tuna. After the speaker, a general fishing discussion will be held. Drinks and snacks will be provided for members and first-time guests. You will be required to join the club to attend again. Joining at a cost of $40 per family will give you access to the clubÂs Facebook page and to view members fish pics, where the fish are, bait used, etc. and ongoing events. Contact Bob at flabob1@ hotmail.com for more info.AUDUBON MEETSThe public is invited to come to the next Peace River Audubon Society meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 19 at First Alliance Church (20444 Midway Blvd, Port Charlotte). The speaker is Reinier Munguia, who will speak on climate change eects on birds. Mr. Munguia is a full-time naturalist and nature photographer based in Lakeland. He serves as president of the Lake Region Audubon Society and Eagle Watch volunteer coordinator. His work has appeared in various publications and he focuses on documenting wildlife and their struggles in our constantly changing environment. For more info, email PeaceRiverAudubon@gmail.com.RV SHOWThe Florida RV Trade Association returns for its 23rd annual admission-free recreation vehicle show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20-22 at the Lee County Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium (14100 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway). The threedayevent will feature seven dealers from around FloridaÂs Gulf Coast displaying a wide selection of new, used and leftover recreation vehicles of all styles, brands and price ranges. RVs on display include gas and diesel motorhomes, travel trailers, toy haulers, fth wheels, park models, van campers and folding campers. A variety of RV suppliers also will be on hand to provide various services to enhance campersÂ outdoor adventures. Visit FRVTA.org/shows for more information.TREE FAIRTree Fair 2018, sponsored by People for Trees, Inc. will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at the North Port Community Education Center (4940 Pan American Blvd., North Port). The Tree Fair will offer hundreds of 3-gallon native trees (approx. 6 to 8 feet tall) for sale for only $15 each. Choose from Florida sweetgum, American elm, bald cypress, slash pine, southern red cedar, dahoon holly and pignut hickory. The native shrubs WalterÂs viburnum and wax myrtle will also be available. You can find out more information about these glorious trees and how to plant and maintain them by attending a free indoor 30-minute tree workshop at 11:30 a.m. that will include a slideshow presentation and handouts. There will also be a fairy house display and contest, music by ÂRev. FaerieÂŽ Elaine Silver, tree-climbing demonstrations and Q&A by Simply Trees certified arborists. For more info, contact Alice White at 941-426-9752 or TreeLady12001@yahoo.com, or visit PeopleForTrees.com.REELING FOR AUTISMFamily Initiative, a Southwest Florida nonprot serving families and children with autism spectrum disorder, will hold a fundraising If you have an event you want included in the Outdoor News Bulletin Board, email it to Editor@WaterLineWeekly.com FISHINÂ FRANKÂS FISHINÂ CLUB: Learn all about shing Charlotte Harbor. Meetings are held the second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month at LuigiÂs Italian Restaurant (3883 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte). Reservations are required; call 941-625-3888 for more info or to sign up. FISHING CLUB MEETINGS: The Gulf Cove Fishing Club meets on the second Monday of the month from October through May at the Hope Lutheran Church in Gulf Cove (14200 Hopewell Ave., Port Charlotte) at 7 p.m. At each meeting, a speaker will talk on a timely topic. The public is invited to attend, but only Gulf Cove residents can be members. For more info, call 941-698-8607. NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY MEETINGS: The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month (Oct-May) at Lemon Bay Park (570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood). Call 941-769-3633. The Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium (3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers). Call 239-275-3435. Meetings are free and the public is welcome. HANG OUT WITH SCRUB JAYS: Spend the morning with the scrub jays at Oscar Scherer State Park (1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. This unique Central Florida experience includes a nature walk to see the parkÂs diverse ecosystems, native ora and fauna. Call 941-483-5956 for info. WHATÂS THAT BIRD?: Volunteer bird interpreters share their expertise on ID and behavior of raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl and other avian visitors at Myakka River State Park (13208 S.R. 72, Sarasota). Volunteers set up scopes and help people identify birds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day of the week. CHARLOTTE HARBOR DRAGONS: Dragon boat club meets every Wednesday and Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Learn the ancient art of dragon boat racing. We practice out of the Port Charlotte Beach Complex (4500 Harbor Blvd. Port Charlotte). For availability, contact Eddie Amara at 941-7401286 or eamara1@comcast.net, or to learn more about the club visit CharlotteHarborDragons.com. Paddles up! CHARLOTTE HARBOR MULTIHULL ASSOCIATION: Members of this club for multihull owners, sailors or those who are interested in the exchange of ideas about equipping and sailing boats, share information about anchorages and cruising destinations, hold informal races and have raft-ups. No dues. The club meets at a local restaurant the rst Monday of each month at 6 p.m. For more info, call 941-876-6667. COASTAL VENTURES CRUISE CLUB: This club, designed for personal boat cruising, meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Waterfrontoo Restaurant (2205 N. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis). Join them for dinner at 6 p.m. and/or the 7:30 p.m. meeting where theyÂll discuss upcoming cruises and activities. Enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded water rats. If interested, attend a meeting or call 941-493-0070 for more info. VOLUNTEER AT SHAMROCK PARK: Shamrock Park Nature Center (3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice) holds its monthly volunteer work mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. on the third Friday of each month. For more info, call Jennifer Rogers at 941-8615000 or email her at jrogers@scgov.net. PEACE RIVER PADDLING: Join a guided kayaking trip on the Peace River. Free if you bring your own kayak, or rent equipment for $25 per person. Paddle with an experienced guide and explore remote areas of the Peace River. These trips are intended to be easy paddling for everyone to have fun, meet people with similar interests, and enjoy the outdoors. We paddle from 9 to 11 a.m. each Tuesday if weather permits. Meet at the Nav-A-Gator (9700 SW Riverview Circle, Lake Suzy) 30 minutes prior to departure. Sign up by calling Steve Burroughs 813-857-4634. Trips are provided byKayakEcoTours.com. ONGOING EVENTSBULLETIN BOARD | 22 www.ilovemymarina.comLocated at 7080 Placida Rd Cape Haze, FL 33946 941-697-4356 WEÂRE YOUR FULL SERVICE MARINA! High & Dry Storage 1 Mo n th FREE *Restricitions Apply adno=50532993

Â€ Page 6 Â€ April 12, 2018 FRESH LOCAL FISHING REPORTS FROM VENICE TO PINE ISLAND INSHORE & FRESHWATER GULF & OFFSHORE BEST BETPompano action is good around the jetties and piers. The pink 1/2and 3/4-ounce silly jigs have been absolutely killer. Sharks have been thick on the beaches, mostly bonnetheads but also a few blacktips and bulls up to about 4 feet. The trout bite has been good in Lemon Bay, with lots of keeper sh this week. The lakes and canals have been dirty, but itÂs not putting a damper on the bite. Specks bass and catsh are all doing well. The wind picked up and pushed a lot of people right o the water. Those who did get out found a mixed bag of snapper and grunts on the nearshore reefs. ItÂs time to explore and take the action as it comes. Scout out some spots on the ICW and nd some sh. The Ainger Pier has been producing well: Sharks black drum pompano etc. North of the bridge, the ats around Lemon Bay Park have had some very nice trout and a few redsh along with some smaller snook Tarpon have dumped into Boca Grande Pass and some guides are reporting jumping a half-dozen or more in a dayÂs shing. A few good keeper snook have been turning up around the El Jobean Bridge. When you can get out, the action is good. Keeper red grouper are coming from around 80 to 95 feet. Snapper porgies grunts and some sheepshead are coming o the reefs closer to shore. Kingsh reports have been almost nonexistent. Good numbers of Spanish mackerel are coming into Lemon Bay and Gasparilla Sound with the incoming tides. Cobia are being caught at the Alligator Creek Reef; most are short but a few keepers have come in. Live shrimp or pinsh under a oat are good picks. The cut leading into the south side of Bull Bay has had snook around the bushes, and Spanish mackerel are coming through on the incoming tides. Pompano and schools of jacks have been roaming the bars on the east and west sides. A mixed bag of snapper has been coming from 40 to about 65 feet. Cut Spanish sardines are tops, but any cut sh will work. Spotty blackn tuna reports have been trickling in from 30 miles; try trolling cedar plugs. If you donÂt get tuna, youÂll probably get little tunny Sharks are hungry around the passes. Soak half a mullet on the bottom, and donÂt be surprised if you hook up with a tarpon instead. THE FISH COACHÂS TIP OF THE WEEK: Most inshore shermen are careful to be quiet when theyÂre approaching a potential honeyhole, but they often make more noise than a herd of elephants when they leave. Not cool, bro. As we all know, Charlotte Harbor can be a pretty crowd ed place, and your shing spot does not belong to you alone. ItÂs reasonable to expect that someone will probably be coming in behind you, just like you probably came in behind someone else. If you blow out the sh when you leave, youÂre going to make it that much harder for the next guy to catch any. I f he doesnÂt catch sh, then heÂll be o to the next spot, and maybe getting in your or someone elseÂs way. It benets us all if we take the same precaution s to be quiet when weÂre leaving as we do when weÂre heading in. WouldnÂt you want the guy ahead of you to do that? Â„ As the Fish Coach, Capt. Josh Olive oers personalized instruction on shing techniques. To book your session or for more information, go to FishCoach.net, email Josh@FishCoach.net or call 941-2769657. CAMERONRIO VILLA BAIT & TACKLE Punta Gorda 941-639-7166JIMFISHERMANÂS EDGE Grove City 941-697-7595MALCOLMCOOKS SPORTLAND Venice 941-493-0025The snook are eating heavily ahead of the spawn, with mostly dinks and monsters around. Redsh are very sparse, with just a few singles and pairs around. Many are sea-bright. Lots of small to medium tarpon are around the U.S. 41 and I-75 bridges on the Peace River. DOA Bait Busters are killer. Bonnetheads and a few blacktips are on the grassats and around the markers. This weekÂs front should excite the freshwater bass and crappie Sharks are abundant nearshore and oshore. Kingsh have been good from 5 to 30 miles out, and there are little tunny and the occasional blackn tuna as well (mostly around the shrimp boats). Spanish and a few cero mackerel are at 15 miles. One sailsh was reported at 12 miles. Red grouper are coming from 25 to 40 miles. The trout are moving from the Gulf up onto the grassats all along the ICW, following the schools of bait. Some of these sh are seriously big ones Â„ up to 30 inches. The trout bite is good between the U.S. 41 and I-75 bridges, and you may also nd tarpon or cobia Stay out of the channel. The Punta Gorda canals have jacks black drum small tarpon slot and bigger snook and even a few redsh Bull Bay is producing redsh on cutbait or shrimp and snook on topwaters early in the day. Pompano and a few permit are on Jug Creek Shoal. Spanish mackerel are riding the incoming tide up to the middle of the Harbor. Reef anglers are nding a mixed bag of snapper and red grouper at 80 feet. The Boxcars is hosting loads of barracuda and there are amberjack and permit on the high-relief wrecks. Spanish mackerel are from the beaches out to about 15 miles, and out that far youÂll nd kingsh Look for birds to nd sh. FWC is still collecting comments about Charlotte HarborÂs shery. To send your commentary to the folks who can actually do something about it, go to https://goo.gl/23uqAE. Black drum have been in the PGI canals, and some eating-size ones less than 30 inches have been in the Port Charlotte canals. Tarpon are scattered from the rivers through the Harbor and out to the beaches. The better redsh action has been around Two Pines, Bull Bay and in Boca Bayou, but there are a few scattered all around. Trout have been good in Pine Island Sound and Lemon Bay. Bonnethead sharks are good around Cape Haze. ItÂs been limited due to weather, but anglers are reporting kingsh and Spanish mackerel from the passes out to 15 miles. Barracuda lane snapper and porgies have been good on the nearshore reefs; sheepshead reports are fading fast. A few bigger sharks have also been hooked on the reefs. There are only a couple weeks left of snook season. For slot sh, troll the canals with a Rapala X-Rap #10 or a similar-sized Bomber. Good sh are also around Two Pines and Placida. Redsh activity has been getting better on the oyster bars and ats. Fresh cut ladysh or mullet are hot baits. Snook are scattered all over from the mangroves to the beaches, so theyÂre not concentrated any one place. The trout bite is hot in 3 to 4 feet of water over grass. Light-colored (not necessarily white) soft plastic shad are working well. White-and-chartreuse Gulps are also good. Tarpon are showing up on the beaches and in the passes. Lane snapper are eating at 10 miles. Small shrimp are the top bait choice. Red grouper have moved out to about 40 miles and are eating frozen squid or bucktails with plastic grubs. The kingsh are hitting trolled spoons at 10 to 15 miles around structure (since bait pods are hard to nd). Blue crabs have been abundant and easy to catch in 6 to 9 feet of water. Bait your traps with cut sh or pig feet.ROBERTFISHINÂ FRANKÂS Charlotte Harbor 941-625-3888JEFFCAPT. TEDÂS TACKLE Port Charlotte 941-627-6800CHUCKLAISHLEY MARINE Punta Gorda 941-639-3949JESSEOLD PINE ISLAND MARINA & TACKLE St. James City 239-283-2548 WHY IT MATTERSBaitsh arenÂt just Âfree baitÂŽ for us Â„ theyÂre also a crucial food source for predatory sh, including the gamesh we want to catch.HOW WE HARM ITOver-harvest of baitsh disrupts the natural feeding of gamesh and seabirds, forcing them to work harder for less food. Live chumming with baitsh also changes how and where sh (especially snook) feed and live.MAKING BETTER CHOICESItÂs OK to net and use live bait. The problem is how much is taken and how we use it. These tips will help ensure we have a healthy population. Â€ Take only what you need for the dayÂs shing. Â€ DonÂt overcrowd your well and kill baitsh pointlessly. Know your capacity. Â€ If bait dies in your well, put it in the cooler and save it for later. ItÂs great chum for another day. Or donate it to a wildlife rescue organization. Â€ Avoid throwing a net with mesh thatÂs too large. Gilled baits (called a ÂChristmas treeÂŽ) rarely survive Â„ bad for the bait and your net. Â€ DonÂt throw too much live chum. A small handful is more than enough most of the time. Better yet, avoid live chumming altogether. Â€ If you have leftover bait, release it on the ats. Bait released at the ramp will probably die.THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOOD STEWARD AND HELPING TO MAKE OUR WATERS HEALTHIER Â„ WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART!

Â€ Page 8 Â€ April 12, 2018 Shutterstock photoWeÂre trading our sheepshead for big sh like this hammerhead shark. Some folks are very happy about that, and others are going back to Minnesota.Spring flingOld Man Winter has been banished back to the northern latitudes. The sticky days of summer are months ahead of us. LetÂs bask in the glory of April and May Â„ two of the most amazing Â“shing months of the year here in Southwest Florida. The term ÂtransitionÂŽ gets tossed around a lot, but it applies. Our weather and our Â“shing are in a period of Â”ux as we cross over from the winter patterns to the summer one. Every week will be a little dierent, as cool air masses from our north and warm ones from the Caribbean shove each other around over our heads. That means two things: First, you need to be prepared for anything out there, and second, whatever plans you make, you need a backup. As it gets warmer, our staple winter species fade away. Sheepshead scatter into the backcountry or disappear oshore (or whatever it is they do). Seatrout move o the grassÂ”ats and into deeper water, where they Â“nd temperatures just a few degrees cooler. But as they exit the stage, new players show up. Tarpon move in from all over, converging on Boca Grande Pass for the big meetup ahead of spawning. Big bull and hammerhead sharks show up right behind them, here to take advantage of twin opportunities: Drop their pups in a productive estuary, then load up on calories by eating tarpon. Other species move through temporarily. Spanish mackerel and kingÂ“sh migrate along the Gulf coast and sometimes well up into the Harbor, following baitÂ“sh that are doing the same thing. Other species such as little tunny, blackÂ“n tuna and cobia do more or less the same thing, although we expect them to hang out longer than the macks do. And Â“nally, we have Â“sh that are moving around. Snook are popping up on the beaches and in the passes. Their migration out of the rivers is slow and drawn out; you might Â“nd snook anywhere from Wauchula to HelenÂs Reef. Tripletail move o the crab traps and into the Harbor. Pompano scatter out and gather up repeatedly. Permit travel from reef to reef and into the surf. RedÂ“sh move into waters shaded by mangroves to stay just a bit cooler. What are you going to do? Well, take your pick, but remember the cardinal rules. You may go out in the morning to throw topwater lures for snook and then have a large school of jacks show up on the edge of the Â”at. Perhaps you decide to drift some deeper grass for trout and then a tarpon invasion rolls in. Or you may go out targeting lane snapper on the reefs and Â“nd yourself surrounded by fat cobia. In each case, being prepared to take advantage of the opportunity is the key. Bring tackle for what you plan to do, but bring other gear as well. If youÂre after trout or redÂ“sh, you should have a tarpon rod too, just in case Â„ and vice versa. If you want to go bottom Â“shing, itÂs a good idea to have trolling gear in the boat Â„ and once again, vice versa. And no matter what youÂre doing, have a rod rigged and ready in case a cobia or busting school of Â“sh suddenly appears in casting range. Having an assortment of dierent baits is part of this plan. IÂll be carrying topwaters, an assortment of sizes and types of soft plastics, bucktail jigs and spoons. Big swimbaits such as DOA Bait Busters or Storm WildEye Shad and a couple large trolling lures round out the basic kit. Of course, having more wonÂt hurt. If you prefer natural baits, the same applies. Our predatory Â“sh are in the process of changing over from shrimp (their main winter food) to small baitÂ“sh. Shrimp will always catch Â“sh, but having whitebait or pinÂ“sh will allow more versatility. Try to have as many dierent types as possible. Yes, itÂs a pain, but youÂre hedging your bets on what Â“sh will want to eat. Weather is a bit tough to predict right now, and thatÂs normal for this time of year. ItÂs one of the big reasons why a backup plan is important. If your intention is to go oshore, but when you get out there you Â“nd 4-foot whitecaps, itÂs very comforting to know you have the tackle and baits to go after backcountry gameÂ“sh instead. Or if youÂre drifting a Â”at and the wind dies completely, that might be your chance to sneak oshore and get on something completely dierent Â„ but only if youÂve prepared for that eventuality. This is just a great time to be on the water. Temperatures are mostly moderate, the forecast is usually dry and the water is as clear as it gets. Just remember when youÂre sight-casting at that cobia, the Â“sh can see a lot better too. My advice is that you get out there and enjoy it Â„ before you know it, the long hot summer will settle in for an extended stay. Get it